Bariatric Surgery: A Review of the Available Procedures and Complications for the Emergency Physician

Morbid obesity is a serious and widespread disease that has considerable morbidity and mortality. Bariatric surgery has become widely available in both community and academic centers as a weight loss option for the morbidly obese. Although the procedure is offered to patients after a careful screening process, it is highly invasive and is performed in patients with significant pre-existing comorbidities from obesity. Knowledge of possible postoperative complications and their management is important as it will affect Emergency Departments nationwide. A basic understanding of the available procedures, the anatomical changes of each procedure, and the common complications for each is important to the emergency physician who will need to evaluate and manage the postbariatric surgery patient.