Management of Morbid Obesity PDF

Preface

The field of bariatric surgery has grown exponentially since 1998. Today there are more procedures performed for morbid obesity than for gastroesophageal reflux disease. To meet the public demand for bariatric surgery, more surgeons are taking steps to incorporate bariatric surgery into their surgical practice. Some surgeons have decided to solely dedicate their practice to bariatric surgery while others are performing bariatric surgery as part of their general surgical practice. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery has documented that the number of surgeons performing bariatric surgery has more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2003.

The growth in bariatric surgery in the United States has not come without criticism by the public and third-party payors. One of these concerns relates to the variability in bariatric surgery outcomes and that the surgery is sometimes being performed by inexperienced surgeons at facilities that are not equipped to care for the morbidly obese. This textbook was written with a focus on the comprehensive management of the morbidly obese patient and includes presentations on the preoperative work-up by a multidisciplinary team, essentials of a bariatric program, and perioperative care of the morbidly obese. Several chapters discuss technical details and outcomes of four commonly performed bariatric procedures including vertical banded gastroplasty, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the duodenal switch. Detailed management of perioperative and late complications are discussed. In addition, postoperative nutritional management is emphasized.

In a time when bariatric surgery is coming under scrutiny, this book can be used as a concise reference guide for surgeons and those interested in the care of the morbidly obese. We hope you will enjoy your learning experience, and this book will help in the ongoing efforts to improve the quality of surgical care for these challenging patients.