Short-medium term complications of bariatric surgery: a pilot study

Bariatric surgery (BS) stands as a highly effective intervention for severe obesity; however, limited understanding exists regarding its short to medium-term complications. This study aimed to analyze short-medium term complications in patients undergoing BS in an Ecuadorian hospital.

A retrospective cohort study included 1132 patients who underwent BS between October 2021 and April 2022, specifically evaluating those with complications needing hospital readmission. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and therapeutic data were collected. The degree of complications was evaluated using the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Out of the 1132 patients, 1.6% experienced early complications requiring hospital readmission within the first six months post-BS. Complications occurred in 7% of patients with revisional surgery, 2% with gastric bypass, and 1.2% with gastric sleeve. The most common complications were stenosis (28%), leaks/fistulas (17%), gallbladder and/or bile duct pathologies (17%), and fever (17%). Management strategies involved conservative treatment (28%), combined endoscopic and surgical approaches (28%), and surgical reintervention alone (33%). According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, 28% presented mild-moderate and 72% serious complications.

BS showed a low incidence of early complications that required readmission. However, a substantial proportion (almost 70%) of patients with early complications experienced severe ones, resulting in prolonged hospital stays. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring and specialized care in the postoperative period, contributing valuable insights to the safety profile of BS in an Ecuadorian context.