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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Weight loss surgery -- also known as bariatric surgery or obesity surgery -- may actually be riskier than once thought.
Most studies on complications due to this type of surgery have been limited to those that occur before hospital discharge, or at the most, up to 30 days after discharge. A new study extended the observation period up to 180 days, or six months, after hospital discharge. A review of insurance claims data reveals a large increase in post-surgical complications. The amount of patients that had to be readmitted to the hospital due to complications increased from 4.8 percent in the 30-day follow up to 7.2 percent in the 180-day follow up.
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This data reveals four out of every 10 obesity surgery patients develop a complication, such as a hernia, within six months of leaving the hospital.
The five most common complications during this study were:
- Dumping syndrome -- 20 percent, which includes vomiting, reflux, and diarrhea
- Anastomosis complications -- 12 percent, resulting from the surgical joining of the intestine and the stomach, such as leaks
- Abdominal hernias -- 7 percent
- Infections -- 6 percent
- Pneumonia -- 4 percent
This new data emphasizes the importance for patients to consider the potential complications when they make the decision to undergo the procedure.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Medical Care, Healthcare Utilization and Outcomes After Bariatric Surgery, August 2006
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