Are you obese and preparing for bariatric surgery? Check what formalities you need to do and what diagnostic tests you need to perform before undergoing gastric reduction surgery.

Bariatric surgeryis a method of treating obesity3rd degree . Annually, from two to three thousand bariatric surgeries are performed in Poland. The most common types of surgery are sleeve gastrectomy, gastric by-pass and mini gastric by-pass, and an adjustable gastric bypass is also performed. However, the queues of people waiting for obesity surgery are long. It is estimated that up to 700,000 obese Poles need such surgery. When deciding to undergo bariatric surgery, be aware that you will not undergo it immediately. You can wait for it for up to a year. However, it is worthwhile to properly prepare for it in terms of organization. We advise on what tests you need to perform and what documents to arrange before a bariatric surgery in order to go to the hospital for the procedure on time.

Bariatric surgery - how to choose a hospital?

Bariatric surgeries reimbursed by the National He alth Fund are performed in approx. 30 hospitals throughout the country. Before choosing a facility for yourself, take into account:

  • the number of bariatric surgeries performed in the hospital- the more of them, the more diverse they are, the greater the certainty that the surgeons working there have extensive experience in performing this type of procedure;
  • team of supporting specialists- check if the bariatric surgery department cooperates with a dietitian, psychologist, physiotherapist experienced in working with the so-called bariatric patients, i.e. people before and after bariatric operations; also check if you can and on what terms use their advice before and after the procedure;
  • the distance between the hospital and the place of residence- the closer the hospital is, the better, because you will come to it for consultations after the surgery; travel to the other side of the country can be expensive and tiring, especially during recovery from surgery;
  • support for other patients- some hospitals already have Bariatric Patient Support Groups; group meetings are an opportunity to exchange experiences with other patients and consult themwith specialists for free.

Bariatric surgery - first meeting with the surgeon

After selecting the hospital, call the surgical clinic (if there is one at the hospital), or directly to the surgical ward, and arrange a consultation with a bariatric surgeon, i.e. a surgeon performing bariatric surgeries. Ask for documents to take with you. Each hospital has slightly different requirements, but in each facility they will certainly be necessary: ​​

1. A referral from a primary care physician(family doctor, internist). The referral should contain the following information: - clear indication of where you are being referred: " to a surgical obesity treatment clinic " ; - obesity disease code - E66.0 (according to the International Classification of Diseases and He alth Problems, the so-called ICD 10 classification.)

Remember!Your primary care physician has NO RIGHT TO REFUSE you to refer you to a specialist treatment clinic. If the doctor does not want to issue this document, notify the head of the facility that the doctor breaks the patient's rights.

2. Information on the previous attempts to reduce body mass . Before consulting a bariatric surgeon, sort out, and if you are afraid that you will forget, also write down all the information about the methods of losing weight, i.e. obesity treatment, that you have undertaken. To qualify for surgery, the surgeon will need information about diets (their types and effects), forms of physical activity, dietary supplements and medications. Recall what the effects of your attempts to lose weight were and how long they lasted.

3 .Medical records of treatment to date . For a consultation with a bariatric surgeon, take with you documents related to the treatment of all your other diseases, medications, etc., as well as hospital records, if you have had tests, procedures, operations there - also those not related to obesity.

Bariatric surgery - diagnostic tests

The procedure for diagnosis and preparation for bariatric surgery includes the following tests:

1. A medical examination, which is simply a conversation about:

  • factors that caused or could have caused you to be overweight and obese,
  • the weight loss methods you have used and their effects,
  • obesity in your family - in your parents, siblings, grandparents,
  • of your other medical conditions that are not a consequence of obesity or are a complication of it, e.g. type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, heart disease, etc.
  • of your motivationto undergo surgery,
  • types of bariatric surgeries that your surgeon proposes, their possible outcomes and complications.

2. Laboratory tests:

  • blood count,
  • assessment of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (the so-called lipid profile),
  • assessment of the concentrations of: iron, transferrin, vitamin B12, folic acid and protein in the serum,
  • examination of the coagulation system - the so-called coagulogram.

Remember!The scope of examinations, consultations and requirements for the patient before bariatric surgery depends on the principles of pre- and postoperative care offered by the hospital. Before the operation, make sure in the selected hospital that there is a preparatory procedure for the procedure.

3. Imaging and supportive examinations:

  • ECG of the heart
  • or heart echo
  • Chest X-ray,
  • ultrasound of the abdominal cavity,
  • Doppler ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities,
  • gastroscopy with Helicobacter pylori infection test,
  • spirometry.

4. Consultation with specialists:

  • psychologist,
  • dietitian,
  • physiotherapist,
  • doctors specializing in comorbidities.

5. Vaccination against hepatitis B - hepatitis B.

Worth knowing

One of the most important elements of preparation for bariatric surgery is weight loss.Before undergoing surgery, you will have to lose about 10%. the weight that makes you overweight. However, there may be times when your surgeon asks you to lose more weight. A dietitian, psychologist and physical therapist will help you with this. If you manage to reach your target weight, it will be easier for you to adapt to your new eating habits following surgery.

Important

Poradnikzdrowie.pl supports safe treatment and a dignified life of people suffering from obesity. This article does not contain discriminatory and stigmatizing content of people suffering from obesity.

About the authorMagdalena Gajda A specialist in obesity disease and obesity discrimination of people with diseases. President of the OD-WAGA Foundation of People with Obesity, Social Ombudsman for the Rights of People with Obesity in Poland and a representative of Poland in the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity. By profession - a journalist specializing in he alth issues, as well as a PR, social communication, storytelling and CSR specialist. Privately - obesity since childhood, after bariatric surgery in 2010. Starting weight - 136 kg, current weight - 78 kg.

Category:

Obesity