Re: Common Channel disputes

May 21, 2001

> Hi all:

>

> Quite a few people seem to be very concerned about the length of

> their common channels. I've had a hard time understanding why this

> is, but now after thinking about it, I think maybe I have an

inkling

> of what's going on...

Hey Tom, I actually can enlighten you to a certain extent based on

stuff I picked up at the USC group meetings. Dr. A and Dr. C.

started doing common channels at about 100 CM when they first started-

- they found that a substatnial number of folks did not achieve

adequet loss at this length and so they shortened it down to about 75

cm-- where most folks seem to be doing quite well. This is varied

somewhat if someone has an exceptionally long or short lenght of

intestine. Some doctors are more rigid about how long the common

channel is, some are more individually guided.

I am divided between the two points of view here-- there is a point

where being an informed medical consumer becomes obsessive and

controling. But I think most of the folks in the world seem to be

content to remain ignorant beyond my belief. I met a young lady

slated for surgery this week who did not have a clue that she was

about to have open surgery which was different from laproscopic

surgery and did not seem to understand she was getting the DS and in

exactly what respects it differed from the RNY--ignorance must be

bliss for some.

I agree with you that after selecting a qualified surgeon to perform

the surgery you think you can live with, one should settle in and let

him/her do the job. But, given the wide variations in what reputable

doctors are doing in RNY and DS variations, it probably behooves one

to ask a whole lot of questions about the chosen doc's approach to

common channel length. However, I doubt any of us can say we have

enough information and understanding to make any competant decisions

about how long we " need " our common channel to be on an individual

basis-- who does well enough on 100 cm and who won't loose enough

depends on a lot of factors-- and that is why we go to docs who

specialize in bariatric surgery.

Nan E.(pre-op in LA)

Recommended Posts