You basically answer a few questions: height, weight, age, ethnicity. It asks questions about co-morbidities, obesity related conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, GERD, sleep apnea that need to be taken into consideration when choosing a bariatric surgical procedure. The results the comparison tool gives you are based on patients who have similar conditions and profile to you.
For fun, I typed in my pre-op stats, it was neat to see what average weight loss could be expected with each procedure at six months, 12 months, and so on after surgery. If you list comorbidites it shares with you a percentage of people whose conditions were resolved or improved enough to stop medications. It shares the average length of hospital stay following each procedure, the probabilities of such risks as hospital readmission, post-surgical illness, potential deficiencies. Long term data on post-ops is lacking so it's great that it is being gathered and will hopefully help weight loss surgery become an even more safe and effective obesity treatment.
Is it an exact science? No, but it can definitely give you a jumping off point to ask questions and start a discussion with your doctor about what obesity treatment option might be the most appropriate for you. Always remember too that we are unique and surgical outcomes rely on many, many factors some of which can not be measured.
Check it out: Ethicon Bariatric Surgery Comparison Tool.
Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., creators of this comparison tool, makes and sells tools and supplies used in bariatric and other surgery including the REALIZE® Adjustable Gastric Band. They are also bronze sponsors of this year's Your Weight Matters National Convention.
I had RNY gastric bypass surgery in 2006.
