Monitoring for and preventing the long-term sequelae of bariatric surgery

Purpose: To present a case study of a patient with multiple comorbid diseases who undergoes bariatric surgery. Data sources: Recent clinical and research articles, bariatric professional society guidelines, and government sources were culled to provide recommendations for the care of the person who chooses bariatric surgery as the treatment for the comorbid conditions of obesity, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Conclusions: As surgical management of obesity becomes more prevalent in an attempt to improve health-related quality of life, reduce mortality, and address the comorbidities that are prevalent in this population, nurse practitioners (NPs) need to understand what long-term management these patients will require. Implications for practice: NPs are primary care providers for patients with chronic diseases. It is likely that they will make referrals for this surgery and follow the patient after the procedure at some point. Knowledge of what the procedures involve, what changes to expect in the comorbid conditions, and what long-term monitoring and treatment should take place in the care of these patients will provide these patients with optimal care.