ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Preoperative and Postoperative Imaging for Bariatric Procedures

Obesity is an increasing worldwide epidemic. Bariatric procedures are safe and effective in the treatment of obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. There are numerous different bariatric procedures ranging from less-invasive procedures to more invasive surgeries. This document discusses the guidelines for the appropriate use of imaging in the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of adult bariatric patients, as well as after surgery when a complication is suspected. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.