Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery
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Surg Obes Relat Dis · Jun 2020
Impact of preoperative opioid use on health outcomes after bariatric surgery.
Opioid consumption in North America has risen to alarming levels and represents a potentially modifiable risk factor in perioperative management. Chronic pain and obesity are commonly associated and bariatric surgery remains the most effective intervention for weight loss in morbidly obese patients. ⋯ Opioid use is common before bariatric surgery and is independently associated with prolonged length of stay and complication rates at 30 days. Preoperative opioid use represents a potentially modifiable risk factor and a unique target to improving the quality of surgical care.