Bariatric Surgery Complications

This text provides a background of scientific evidence to understand the complications that occur after bariatric surgery for all providers responsible for care after surgical intervention. Written by experts and based on current peer reviewed literature, the text provides a focused approach to the identification and treatment of bariatric surgery complications. To establish a context for providers, the initial section concentrates on presenting the current procedures as well as risks and expected benefits of each with an emphasis on mechanism of action. It examines the issue of weight regain from the aspect of heterogeneity in order to present the perspective that every procedure has risk of weight regain. The text provides guidance to those front line providers who manage acute emergencies and chronic long term problems. State of the art management of complications like leaks, bleeding, ulcers, blood clots and pneumonia are discussed for all procedures in addition to the management of rapid remission of obesity related disease like Type 2 Diabetes and coagulopathies (Leiden Factor V, Protein C and S) that occur commonly in patients with obesity. Each chapter features a review of the current literature in an easy to reference table format and where appropriate an algorithm to focus the reader on the process of care for any given presenting sign or symptom.

As a practicing surgeon, dedicated researcher, author and medical school professor, Dr. Blackstone is recognized as a leading expert in the medical and surgical treatment of obesity, metabolic disease, and obesity-related diseases. She has performed more than 5,000 surgeries in the 13 years since she established the original Scottsdale Bariatric Center, one of the first institutions in the U.S. to be nationally accredited as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. As Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Dr. Blackstone has over the past years established a didactic 'obesity course' for second year medical students. She also established clinical practice model rotations in obesity medicine for third and fourth year medical students and family practice residents.