Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Postpartum Period: Increased Risk of Bleeding, a Challenging Situation

Omar Abouzahr1, Fabio Garofalo1, Pierre Y Garneau2

  • 1Surgical Department, Bariatric Division, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Université de Montréal, 5400 boul. Gouin ouest, Montréal, Québec, H4J 1C5, Canada.

Obesity Surgery
|April 2, 2016
PubMed

The female population represents three-fourths of patients undergoing a bariatric procedure and could be scheduled for surgery in their postpartum period. We report a difficult case of a female patient who underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy 6 weeks postpartum. The postpartum period is accompanied by pronounced vasodilatation with transient portal hypertension. Most of the hemodynamic alterations occurring during pregnancy return to baseline within 6-8 weeks after delivery. Bariatric surgery in the postpartum period should be avoided in order for the cardiovascular system to regain its normality.