Preparation for Surgery
What are the routine tests before surgery?
Each weight-loss surgery patient undergoes a thorough medical evaluation prior to surgery. The following areas are just an example of some of the areas that may require evaluation prior to weight-loss surgery.
Laboratory:
Lab tests for anemia, thyroid function, electrolyte values and protein levels may be requested. Diabetic patients may be required to show that their glucose levels are well controlled before surgery. Women of child-bearing age who might become pregnant will have a pregnancy screening the day of surgery.
Radiology:
All patients must have a chest X-ray before surgery. It is not unusual for a patient with a history of gallbladder disease to undergo an ultrasound of the gallbladder and possibly some additional studies for gallbladder function. Patients with a BMI of 50 or greater, or patients with a history of clotting disorders, blood clots in the legs, or blood clots to the lung may have a filter placed in the large vein (inferior vena cava) that returns blood to the heart. This precaution reduces the risk of possibly fatal blood clot traveling to the lung. Your surgeon will provide the details of this procedure and its risks and benefits if it is recommended for you.
Cardiology:
Weight-loss surgery patients must receive cardiac clearance from a local cardiologist prior to surgery. The exact nature of this evaluation rests solely with the cardiologist. Testing may include electrocardiogram, cardiac echo, stress treadmill and/or a perfusion study.
Pulmonary:
Weight-loss surgery patients may be seen by a local pulmonologist (lung specialist) prior to surgery. Additional study for sleep apnea may be recommended. Pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases (ABG) may also be required at the discretion of the pulmonologist.
Psychiatric:
Weight-loss surgery patients are seen by a psychiatrist or psychologist prior to surgery to reaffirm there are no psychological contraindications to weight-loss surgery. This evaluation helps ensure the patient is able to comply with the lifestyle changes associated with weight-loss surgery. Additional follow-up visits after surgery may be required.
GI Evaluation:
Patients who have Roux-N-Y gastric bypass surgery may require outpatient endoscopy (EGD) before surgery, particularly if there is a history of ulcers or other GI problems. Many patients have symptoms of reflux or heartburn, and it’s important to identify any such pathology or problems with anatomy prior to surgery.
What is the purpose of all these tests?
An accurate assessment of your health is needed before surgery and to make your weight-loss surgery as safe as possible. Not all risks can be eliminated, but these risks may be kept to a minimum with thorough, advance testing.
What impact do my medical problems have on the decision for surgery, and how do the medical problems affect risks?
Medical problems, such as serious heart or lung problems, may increase the risks associated with any surgery. Of course, if these problems are related to morbid obesity, they also may increase the need for weight-loss surgery. Severe medical problems may not preclude weight-loss surgery, but rather, these medical conditions increase the risks associated with surgery as compared to patients who do not have these conditions. At Bailey Bariatrics, our surgeons thoughtfully consider the benefits of weight-loss surgery in relation to the amount of risks surgery holds for a given patient.
How can I learn more about my medical and surgical weight-loss options?
Bailey Medical Center and our bariatric surgeons regularly host free informational seminars about medical and surgical weight-loss. These seminars are held in various communities in and around Northeast Oklahoma. At the meeting, you will be told how to make an initial physician appointment with a bariatric surgeon.
Attendance at one of our informational meetings is required for patients who choose to have weight-loss surgery at Bailey Medical Center.
Please contact Bariatrics at Bailey Medical Center at (877) 376-8580 to make your reservation. Seating availability is limited.
What should I bring to my initial appointment with a surgeon at Bailey Bariatrics?
If you don't already have one, select a primary care physician and establish a physician/patient relationship with him or her. Ensure that your routine health maintenance testing is current. For example, women may require a PAP smear and/or pelvic exam, possibly a mammogram. For men, a prostate exam may be needed.
- Prepare a written ‘diet history’ - which is a list of all the diets you have tried – and bring it to your initial appointment with the surgeon.
- Bring any pertinent medical data to your initial appointment with the surgeon, including the results of any special tests (for example, echocardiogram or sleep study), and a history of any medical conditions and any treatments you’ve received for them.
- Bring a list of your medicines with medication name, strength, and when and how often you take the medication.
- Stop smoking. Surgical patients who use tobacco products are at a higher surgical risk.