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Bariatric Surgery - Delaying Surgery may be risky

By Dr. Pradeep Chowbey in Bariatric Surgery / Metabolic

Dec 10 , 2020 | 2 min read

Covid-19 venom has sting the world at every level of life. The amount of information and misinformation spreading around is even more frightening than the virus itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has deaccelerated the functioning of healthcare systems around the world and led to changes in elective surgical care, with bariatric procedures being postponed until the end of the pandemic. This has burnout a load of bariatric patients and one needs to understand Bariatric patients are unique from other surgical patients due to their higher prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illnesses. The outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has drastically changed the way bariatric surgeon's practice today.
The research revealed by the New York University Grossman School of Medicine also suggests obese people are more prone to be hospitalized with Covid-19 than those with cancer or lung disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned its people who have higher BMI-40 and are severely obese. The threat of obesity gaining in India too. The hypothesis suggests, in obese patients suffering from COVID-19, the body overreacts to infection with inflammation, irritating lungs. Obesity is well recognized to be a pro-inflammatory condition. This possibility directly contributes to the association of the worst outcomes of COVID-19 infection in obese patients. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has proposed Bariatric surgery can improve obesity and the related diseases that increase risks for worse COVID-19 outcomes and should be a surgeons priority amid Covid-19
The misconception that bariatric surgery is a 'last resort', the widespread stigma of obesity and inadequate criteria for patients' selection can penalize candidates for surgical treatment of obesity and diabetes." Social distancing policies have limited adherence to lifestyle interventions such as a healthy diet and physical exercise, which has worsen the health of affected patients. Compared to non-surgical treatments, bariatric and metabolic surgery leads to greater long-term weight loss, reduction of cardiovascular risk, remission of diabetes and can improve survival. Delaying surgery may call for danger and make obese patients vulnerable to severe consequences of coronavirus. It has been proven metabolic surgery is a potentially lifesaving treatment for selected obese persons with type 2 diabetes."
Doctors and healthcare workers have taken a pledge to be frontline warriors in this phase of Covid-19. All measures are being taken for maintaining a line of communication with bariatric patients during this period of uncertainty which is essential for continuity of care. With the advent of technology, patients can also utilize various online platforms to guide their weight and comorbidity management. Online social support group gatherings and telemedicine implementation have brought a radical change in the healthcare sector.
Hence, this wave of pandemic (COVID-19) will disappear in the coming months but our concern is what we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg as pandemic and the actual consequence of pandemic leading to another new wave epidemic (Obesity and its comorbidities) is being obscured to the human eye. The resumption of Bariatric Metabolic Surgery is crucial because its not only weight loss operation but also resolves comorbidities and restores immune status of an individual.
Thus, wellness is a startup key to function in life today. It's very vital to be aware of one's malfunction (disease- diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc.) and it is our self generated interest to keep a balance, harmony with our body system, and not shirk to seek the help of doctors for our wellness.
Just to conclude saying “Change your Life Today, Act Now without Delay”