It is generally thought that the mortality risk in bariatric surgery is low (surgery for weight lose). But this may not be true in extremely obese individuals-says a new study headed by David Arterburn, MD, MPH, from Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, Washington. The reason for this discrepancy is that the prior studies mainly included younger female patients.
The team collected the data for the study from VA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, and it included a total of 856 veterans. Before surgery, mean body mass index (BMI) was 48.7 kg/m2, mean age was 54 years, and mean diagnostic cost group (DCG) score was 0.76. The study sample was 73.0% men, 83.9% white, and 7.0% American Society of Anaesthesiologists class equal to 4. By the end of 2006, a total of 54 veterans (6.3%) had died. |
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"Extreme obese veterans and those with a greater burden of chronic disease had a greater risk of death after bariatric surgery from 2000 through 2006," the study authors observed.
Limitations of this study include older, predominantly male population; limited number of deaths; and lack of access to data on cause of death or changes in weight after surgery.
The authors point out that the study indicates the importance of discussions with patients about the risks and benefits of this surgery. The study also suggest that the risks associated with significant co-morbidities like congestive heart failure, complicated diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should be carefully weighed against potential benefits in older male patients and those with extreme obesity. However the mortality rate increases during the postoperative period up to 1 year, it is small and does not negate the several advantages for patients who undergo bariatric surgery.
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