La obesidad en la historia de la cirugía

Dataset for the estimation of a new body fat measurement method

Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity and its negative consequences worldwide on public health, body composition analysis is a central pillar to assess the nutritional status. Scientists could use datasets to develop a new body fat measurement formula. Using bioelectrical impedance analysis, we analyzed the total body composition of 345 patients (234 men and 111 women) aged between 18 and 60 years residing in the metropolitan area of Barranquilla, Colombia. They have the potential for predictive formula analysis enhancing the cooperation among scientists. Due to the obesity pandemic, new datasets from other populations are needed to develop a body fat basic mathematical equation formula that could be used worldwide to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a specific population group predisposed to develop metabolic syndrome or death, secondary to high cardiovascular risk.

[Beginnings of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Spain]

When bariatric and metabolic surgery initially began in Spain, it was a subject of debate, due to not knowing exactly who were the first surgeons to perform it. A study has revealed the authors of the first interventions.

[Preoperative weight loss in bariatric surgery candidate patients. evidence-based recommendations]

INTRODUCTION

Bariatric surgery is becoming increasingly more common in the treatment of morbid obesity in our hospitals. One of the measures being used to optimise the results of this surgery seems to be the standardising the preoperative weight loss. As there are no universal recommendations for carrying out this weight loss, a review of this topic is presented.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse whether sufficient scientific evidence exists to recommend preoperative weight loss in candidate patients for bariatric surgery. What would be the best options to carry out this weight loss is also analysed, as well as making some recommendations based on the scientific evidence.

RESULTS

There is great heterogeneity in the designs of the different studies, with different guidelines for weight loss and various surgical techniques. However, preoperative weight loss leads to a decrease in the size of the liver and intra-abdominal fat, which improves the surgical field and intra-operative view, which in turn helps during the surgical act, both in open as well as laparoscopic surgery. There is no consensus on the effect of preoperative weight loss has in predicting the medium or long term results after bariatric surgery.

CONCLUSION

The current scientific evidence makes preoperative weight loss recommendable in candidate patients for bariatric surgery. However, there is no consensus on what is the best procedure to achieve this preoperative weight loss.