Perioperative Complications with Bariatric Surgery

Patients who are considering bariatric surgery must weigh short-term risks of surgery against long-term benefits of weight loss. In this prospective observational study, a consortium of 33 surgeons at 10 U.S. centers tracked perioperative outcomes for 4610 patients (mean baseline body-mass index, 46.5 kg/m²) who underwent bariatric procedures (65% laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 9% open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 26% laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) from 2005 through 2007.

A 30-day composite endpoint (death, venous thrombosis, need for invasive reintervention, or failure to be discharged from hospital) occurred in 1.0% of patients who underwent laparoscopic banding, in 4.8% of patients who underwent laparoscopic bypass, and…