A few words from Dr. Baltasar

[Guest guest]

He is happy that we are happy about his first lap. He is happy with the patient.

He says the following:

*It is too early to know the next steps.

*This is considered the most advanced lap surgery ever done for these patients

*It is not safe for him to offer to all patients right now

*The mortality and complication rates are much higher even by a gifted surgeon than by the open technique

*He plans to do several cases under 'development' conditions and when he has at least 20 patients without complications, before offering to everyone.

*He says it is very dangerous to rush this and have failures

*For the time being, he plans to offer it the safest and best option for him and the patient, which is open.

*He says when he is fully confident that he can do it as safely as the open, he will offer it.

*He doesnt know when or how much it will cost, but it will definitely be more expensive.

Well, thats it in a nutshell. I am proud of him for exploring this and realizing his own limits. So, maybe the star shouldnt be by his name, just yet.

kris~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Aniceto Baltasar, MD Alcoy, SPAINJuly 23, 1999 - self payOpen BPD/DS60.35 inches gone140+ lbs gone to the windLa vita e bella!See my pics: http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Kris/kris.html