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Complications and Surveillance After Bariatric Surgery

  • Neurologic Manifestations of Systemic Disease (A Pruitt, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Opinion statement

Bariatric surgery represents a durable and safe treatment modality for morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery results in weight loss by one of two—and possibly both—primary mechanisms, reducing the amount of tolerable intake (restrictive) and reducing the amount of nutrients absorbed by bypassing absorptive intestine (malabsorptive). These procedures have consistently demonstrated superior resolution of obesity and many associated co-morbid conditions as compared to medical management. Beyond the periprocedural complications of surgery, there are longitudinal risks such as weight regain, anatomic complications, and micronutrient deficiencies. Complications related to the anatomic alteration after bariatric surgery include internal herniation, marginal ulcers, dumping syndrome, and gastric band-related complications. Physicians who take care of bariatric patients at any point in their post-operative care must be vigilant for these complications, as they may necessitate urgent intervention or re-operation. Micronutrient deficiencies, which commonly occur after malabsorptive procedures, may present with a wide range of symptoms—including neuropathies, anemia, poor wound healing, and hair loss, among others. Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals frequently result in the need for long-term supplementation and may necessitate intravenous repletion when severe. Bariatric surgery may also alter the absorption of commonly prescribed medications, including anti-psychotic medications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Penn Medicine, Department of Surgery, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Seth J. Concors MD, Brett L. Ecker MD, Richard Maduka BS, Alyssa Furukawa BA, Steven E. Raper MD, Daniel D. Dempsey MD, Noel N. Williams MD & Kristoffel R. Dumon MD

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  1. Seth J. Concors MD
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Correspondence to Kristoffel R. Dumon MD.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neurologic Manifestations of Systemic Disease

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Concors, S.J., Ecker, B.L., Maduka, R. et al. Complications and Surveillance After Bariatric Surgery. Curr Treat Options Neurol 18, 5 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-015-0383-0

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