Postoperative Assessment and Management of Obesity Surgery

Excerpt

With a growing number of obese patients throughout the world, weight loss surgery has surged in popularity. Not only have bariatric surgeries been shown to improve obesity-related comorbidities, but they have also had a great impact on both the quality of life and life expectancy of patients.

Care for the bariatric patient does not cease in the OR. These patients need close follow up and care from experts in the fields of nutrition, psychiatry, and internal medicine in addition to their surgeon. This paper will provide a review of the types of bariatric surgery and anticipated benefits in regard to weight loss and co-morbidity improvement, expected alterations in nutrition and eating habits, potential complications, and the psychological impact surgery and subsequent weight loss has on bariatric patients.