The current status and challenges of perioperative management of patients with a BMI of greater than or equal to 50 kg/m 2 undergoing bariatric surgery in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND:Performing bariatric surgery on patients with a BMI of over 50 kg/m 2 is challenging. This study aimed to explore the status and challenges related to the perioperative management of such patients in China. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A prospective survey was designed to investigate the perioperative management of patients with a BMI of greater than or equal to 50 kg/m 2 undergoing bariatric surgery in China. The questionnaire of our survey included general information, preoperative management measures, surgical procedures performed, technical details regarding anaesthesia, and postoperative management measures. A response from only one attending physician per bariatric centre was accepted. RESULTS:Physicians from a total of 101 hospitals responded to the questionnaire, and the questionnaire data from 98 hospitals were complete. These centres had completed a total of 44 702 bariatric surgeries since the launch of such surgery to December 2021. A total of 3280 patients had a BMI exceeding 50 kg/m 2 . The preferred surgical procedures for patients with super obesity were sleeve gastrectomy by 62 centres, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass by 11 centres, sleeve gastrectomy plus jejunojejunal bypass by 19 centres, one anastomosis gastric bypass by 1 centre, and duodenal switch by 1 centre. The most worrying issues were cardiopulmonary failure and difficulty in extubation. 91 centres believed that preoperative weight loss was beneficial. A low-calorie diet was the specific measure mainly implemented, only three centres considered using intragastric balloon placement. Postoperative management measures varied greatly. CONCLUSION:Bariatric surgery has seen rapid development. Chinese physicians show significant differences regarding the perioperative management for patients with a BMI of over 50 kg/m 2 . The perioperative risks of these patients remain relatively high, making further development of clinical pathways is necessary.