Basic postoperative management of the bariatric patient

Abstract

Maintenance of adequate caloric intake, progression of key milestones, and knowing what complications to consider for each specific procedure are critical in the postoperative management of bariatric patients. It is essential that all practitioners involved in the care of bariatric patients understand the various procedures and are familiar with postoperative issues. All patients need to be monitored closely in the postoperative period to minimize side effects while continuing to offer good weight loss results. The purpose of this chapter will be to highlight key issues in postoperative management of the various procedures and touch briefly on what complications should be considered during this period.