Bariatric Surgery: Types, Complications & Patient Needs

Bariatric surgery is any surgical procedure that involves the reduction of body fat, typically by reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band or through removal of part of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) or by resecting and re-routing the small intestine to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery). Bariatric surgery has been shown to be effective in treating obesity along with associated comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. But it's not without risks. In fact, bariatric surgery is considered a major surgical procedure and requires careful consideration of risks and benefits. In this article, we'll review some of the complications that can arise from bariatric surgery and how to handle them. We'll also talk about nutritional considerations for patients who undergo these procedures. Types of Bariatric Surgery The most common types...