Surgery for obesity can lead to complications before and after discharge

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Complications from weight loss surgery during the first six months are far from uncommon.
The number of obese Americans opting for weight loss surgery has more than quadrupled in recent years - from 13,386 in 1998 to 71,733 in 2002. Although weight loss surgery can, indeed, be an effective remedy for obesity - reducing health risks like diabetes dramatically - it is not without risk. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality now reports on the incidence of complications after weight loss surgery in patients followed for six months - that is, pre and post-discharge.

Complications occurred among 21.9 per cent while in hospital and this went up to 39.6 per cent at six months. The most common complication was dumping syndrome, followed by problems with the surgical joining of the intestine and stomach and hernias. The overall death rate was, however, low at 0.2 per cent. The complications led to significantly increased costs. And ten per cent of those who did not have a complication after weight loss surgery at 30 days developed one by 180 days so people need to be aware that problems can set in later on. The study means that the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery need to be carefully discussed with all those considering it as a treatment for obesity.

Source
Medical Care August 2006