Obesity is associated with increased risks and potential complications associated with surgery.

Accepted threshold for elective safe surgery is: (BMI) <40.

Risks

• Poor patient outcomes
• Major complications after surgery, include: infection, poor wound healing, difficulty breathing, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and higher readmission rates (especially within 30-90 days of surgery).

Surgeon Tools/Recommendations

• Establish a BMI target in your practice that can be used to help patients meet their goal.
• Set patient-specific goals between surgeon and patient.
• Recommend nutritional counseling and encouraging appropriate activities in elective surgical setting (see nutritional assessment)
• Propose verbal or written contracts between patient and physician for achieving weight loss goals.