Background: During the last 5 years, the performance of bariatric operations has doubled via our outpatient obesity clinic. Currently, 52% of the patients presenting for weight loss are interested in bariatric surgery. Gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are the two laparoscopic procedures proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative teaching on the patients' surgical option. Methods: All the candidates for bariatric surgery were submitted to preoperative teaching and those between February 2001 and December 2002 are the subject of this study. The teaching consisted of 3 weekly interactive 2-hour sessions. During the first session, the patients were asked about the type of operation that they had in mind: gastric banding, gastric bypass, or not yet decided. The same questions were repeated at the end of the third session, with an additional possible answer: no surgery. Results: 297 consecutive patients with a BMI >35 kg/m2 with at least one severe co-morbidity, were submitted to preoperative teaching. 80% of the patients were women. Median age was 41 years. Before teaching, 68 patients (23%) were uncertain, 100 (34%) favored gastric banding, and 129 (43%) wanted a gastric bypass. After education, only 3 patients (1%) remained uncertain, 45 (15%) changed their surgical option, and 27 (9%) declined surgery. The proportion of patients opting for gastric banding decreased from 34% to 20%, whereas those electing bypass increased from 43% to 70%. Conclusions: Preoperative training provides an informed and better patient selection for bariatric surgery. It helps the patients understand the various surgical options, and makes their decision easier.
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Giusti, V., De Lucia, A., Di Vetta, V. et al. Impact of Preoperative Teaching on Surgical Option of Patients Qualifying for Bariatric Surgery. OBES SURG 14, 1241–1246 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1381/0960892042387020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1381/0960892042387020