Nearly four percent of Americans are morbidly obese, a clinical term that means their weight has left their lives on the line due to a multitude of health issues. Those most desperate are turning towards weight-loss surgery, an elective option that includes bariatric and lap-band techniques. While hospitals are profiting from the boon, there are hidden dangers that many patients discover after their procedures.
Dangers of Weight-Loss Surgery
Approximately 200,000 weight-loss surgeries are performed annually in the U.S. Complications can arise from these procedures; in fact, they’re common. Here are some of the possibilities as described by the Cleveland Clinic.
- Up to 20% of patients suffer complications that require more surgery later to correct problems.
- About 30% of patients will develop gallstones; this can be prevented by taking bile salts for six months post-surgery.
- Nearly 30% of patients develop nutritional deficiencies as they struggle to provide their bodies with enough food.
- The 30-day death rate according to the NIH is about 0.3 percent.
There can also be emotional stress that affects patients post-surgery. One study of 17,000 patients found the suicide rate was five times higher than that of the normal population. Patients also have a higher divorce rate, which can be from a boost in self-esteem, or the struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle post-surgery.
Weight-Loss Surgery Can be Profitable
One of the early pioneers in bariatric surgery as a profit center is Durham Regional Hospital of North Carolina. From 1999 to 2002, the hospital ran a $26 million loss; they then added a bariatric surgery center and in 2004 turned an $8 million profit.
As of 2008, the per annum cost of treating an obese person was $1,723 according to the NIH. Somewhere between five and ten percent of all healthcare costs are directly attributed to obesity. The cost of weight-loss surgery varies between $15,000 and $33,000, with a national average of about $22,000. Many private insurers will pay for weight-loss surgery because they stand to recoup their investment in a few years. Hospitals’ bottom lines benefit immediately because this is an elective procedure, so surgical centers know ahead of time how and when they are being paid with very little issue collecting payment post-surgery.
What do you think? Is weight-loss surgery a viable option for morbidly obese patients? Or do the risks outweigh the potential gains for most of your patients? We’d love to hear your thoughts below in the comments and we’ll be continuing the conversation inside the Sermo community. If you’re an M.D. or D.O., please join us.
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