Editor's Note Robotic surgery can improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and improve efficiencies and turnover time, but only if it’s done right. In a conference session yesterday,  Michelle Toder, MD offered insights, best practices, and lessons learned during two decades of experience in pioneering robotic applications in weight loss and…

Read More

Editor's Note:  Fondoplication and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are both viable choices for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with obesity, according to a recent study comparing the two procedures. Results were published December 27 in ScienceDirect. The study was based on a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained quality…

Read More

Editor's Note This multisite study, led by Durham VA Medical Center and Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, finds that bariatric surgery is associated with greater risks of suicidal ideation (ie, suicidal thoughts or ideas) and suicide attempts than nonsurgical treatments in obese patients. For the analysis, 38,199 patients in the…

Read More

Editor's Note This study from the UK finds that patients are not given sufficient information about innovative surgical procedures and their potential risks and uncertainties. Researchers collected data on seven cases, using preoperative interviews with surgeons, audio-recorded consultations during which innovative procedures were discussed between surgeons and patients, and postoperative…

Read More

Editor's Note The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced on June 29 that patients taking any of the currently popular medications for weight loss or for the treatment of type 2 diabetes should withhold the medication prior to elective surgery to "reduce the risk of complications associated with anesthesia in…

Read More

Editor's note According to a research letter, titled “Use of metabolic and bariatric surgery among US youth” and published by JAMA Pediatrics on May 30, “more young people between the ages of 10 and 19 are undergoing weight-loss surgeries,” Chief Healthcare Executive June 1 reports. This emerging trend has prompted…

Read More

Editor's Note This study from the University of Pittsburgh finds that telemedicine can be used safely and effectively for bariatric surgical patients’ preoperative care. A total of 1,182 patients (telemedicine visit group, 257 vs in-person visit controls, 925) were included in the analysis. The telemedicine group was found to be…

Read More

Editor's Note In this study, Swedish researchers, find that gastric bypass was associated with a decreased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), but not ischemic stroke within 10 years of surgery, and it reduced mortality during the first 3 years after surgery but not thereafter. Study participants were divided into obese…

Read More

Editor's Note On January 10, ECRI released a new report calling on healthcare leaders to change their approach and embrace Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved weight loss drugs. ECRI says there is a large body of evidence showing that these drugs are beneficial as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and…

Read More

Editor's Note This study led by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine finds significant sustained reduction in weight and comorbidities as well as low rates of long-term complications 10 years or more after having metabolic and bariatric surgery as an adolescent. A total of 96 patients (83% female,…

Read More