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Expert Panel on Weight Loss Surgery: Executive Report Update
Author(s) -
Blackburn George L.,
Hutter Matthew M.,
Harvey Alan M.,
Apovian Caroline M.,
Boulton Hannah R.W.,
Cummings Susan,
Fallon John A.,
Greenberg Isaac,
Jiser Michael E.,
Jones Daniel B.,
Jones Stephanie B.,
Kaplan Lee M.,
Kelly John J.,
Kruger Rayford S.,
Lautz David B.,
Lenders Carine M.,
LoNigro Robert,
Luce Helen,
McNamara Anne,
Mulligan Ann T.,
PaascheOrlow Michael K.,
Perna Frank M.,
Pratt Janey S.A.,
Riley Stancel M.,
Robinson Malcolm K.,
Romanelli John R.,
Saltzman Edward,
Schumann Roman,
Shikora Scott A.,
Snow Roger L.,
Sogg Stephanie,
Sullivan Mary A.,
Tarnoff Michael,
Thompson Christopher C.,
Wee Christina C.,
Ridley Nancy,
Auerbach John,
Hu Frank B.,
Kirle Leslie,
Buckley Rita B.,
Annas Catherine L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2008.578
Subject(s) - multidisciplinary approach , best practice , medicine , accreditation , health care , medline , patient safety , executive summary , population , public relations , medical education , political science , business , environmental health , finance , law
Rapid shifts in the demographics and techniques of weight loss surgery (WLS) have led to new issues, new data, new concerns, and new challenges. In 2004, this journal published comprehensive evidence‐based guidelines on WLS. In this issue, we've updated those guidelines to assure patient safety in this fast‐changing field. WLS involves a uniquely vulnerable population in need of specialized resources and ongoing multidisciplinary care. Timely best‐practice updates are required to identify new risks, develop strategies to address them, and optimize treatment. Findings in these reports are based on a comprehensive review of the most current literature on WLS; they directly link patient safety to methods for setting evidence‐based guidelines developed from peer‐reviewed scientific publications. Among other outcomes, these reports show that WLS reduces chronic disease risk factors, improves health, and confers a survival benefit on those who undergo it. The literature also shows that laparoscopy has displaced open surgery as the predominant approach; that government agencies and insurers only reimburse procedures performed at accredited WLS centers; that best practice care requires close collaboration between members of a multidisciplinary team; and that new and existing facilities require wide‐ranging changes to accommodate growing numbers of severely obese patients. More than 100 specialists from across the state of Massachusetts and across the many disciplines involved in WLS came together to develop these new standards. We expect them to have far‐reaching effects of the development of health care policy and the practice of WLS.