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Time trends in obesity surgery 1987 through 1996 in Sweden--a population-based study.
E Leffler1, S Gustavsson, B M Karlson
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Obesity Surgery
|February 15, 2001
Summary
Obesity surgery in Sweden increased threefold between 1987 and 1996, primarily due to simple gastric restrictive procedures. While operative mortality is low, repeat obesity surgeries are common.
Area of Science:
- Bariatric Surgery
- Public Health Surveillance
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Sweden's comprehensive public healthcare system and national patient registry facilitate robust surgical procedure surveillance.
- The study leverages this infrastructure to analyze trends in obesity surgery incidence and practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the practice of obesity surgery in Sweden.
- To analyze trends in the incidence, types, and outcomes of bariatric procedures from 1987 to 1996.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a national registry of in-patient hospital care.
- Inclusion criteria: patients undergoing obesity surgery between January 1987 and December 1996.
- Data extracted included patient demographics, procedure types, and hospital stay duration.
Main Results:
- A threefold increase in annual obesity surgeries occurred, from 312 in 1987 to 952 in 1996.
- Simple gastric restrictive procedures constituted 76% of all surgeries; gastric bypass and jejuno-ileal bypass were less common.
- Hospital mortality was low at 0.4%, but 14% of patients operated on in 1996 had prior bariatric surgery.
Conclusions:
- Obesity surgery incidence in Sweden significantly increased from 1987-1996, driven by simple gastric restrictive procedures.
- The low operative mortality is encouraging, but a high rate of repeat procedures indicates potential long-term management challenges.