Perioperative risks and safety of surgery for severe obesity

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The National Bariatric Surgery Registry (NBSR) results reflect low perioperative risk for obesity surgery. Five deaths occurred within 40 d of operation in 5178 patients (0.1 %). A subset of 3174 patients with complete information for complication and postoperative hospital stay was further studied. Females comprised 87% of the data set. Median values were determined for age, 37 y ( 18–70 y); operative weight, 121 kg (77–288 kg); and operative body mass index (BMI), 44 kg/m2 (29–91 kg/m2). Patients with no complications (89.7%) were reported to have a median postoperative stay of 4 d (2–23 d). The most severe complications were deep venous thrombosis (0.3%) and gastrointestinal leak (0.6%), with median postoperative hospital stay of 12 d (ranges 2–27 and 4–59 d, respectively). The most frequent complication reported was respiratory (4.5%), with median postoperative stay of 6 d (3–34 d). Median postoperative hospital stay for wound infection (1.6%) was 5 d. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55:573S-6S.