Abstract:

The prevalence of obesity has increased to epidemic proportions, making obesity and its comorbid conditions a major public health concern. There are few effective treatments for obesity such as dieting, increased physical activity, behavior modification or pharmacotherapy. However, these interventions are associated with only transitory weight loss. Bariatric surgery, which restricts the size of the stomach and limits calorie intake, is considered the most effective treatment with long-term weight loss and improvement of obesity-related comorbidities. However, all surgery carries some degree of risk, and obesity may put bariatric surgery patients at a higher risk. The risk of developing major postoperative complications is approximately 0.2- 10%, depending on various factors. Early postoperative complications such as bleeding, atelectasis, venous thromboembolism, escape of anastomosis, rhabdomyolysis and late complications such as dumping syndrome, marginal ulcers, vitamin and nutritional deficiencies can be seen. Prevention, early detection and appropriate management of complications are crucial to avoid morbidity and mortality. Bariatric surgeries are increasing in recent years. There are significant responsibilities for surgical nurses in the prevention and effective management of postoperative complications related to bariatric surgery and other obesity-related health problems. In this article, the postoperative complications and nursing care of patients who underwent bariatric surgery are discussed.

Keywords: