Perioperative Nursing Care of the Patient Undergoing Bariatric Revision Surgery

Obesity has become a major health concern in the United States. The number of patients seeking bariatric surgery has grown exponentially in recent years because of the proven success of weight-loss surgery, greater public acceptance, and the increasing number of insurers who will pay for these surgeries. Patients may seek bariatric revision procedures if the primary procedure does not achieve the desired results, if he or she gains back the weight lost after the primary procedure, if the comorbid conditions associated with obesity were not resolved, or if severe adverse effects and complications have occurred as a result of the primary bariatric procedure. Perioperative nurses must be knowledgeable about how to care for bariatric surgery patients with skill and compassion.