Obesity surgery
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Morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery have commonly been concluded to be at high risk for the development of perioperative venous thromboembolism. Due to its clinically silent nature, primary prevention is the key to reduce morbidity and mortality. There is no clear consensus in the literature regarding the optimum approach to minimize this preventable phenomenon. ⋯ The prevailing opinion of members of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery is that morbidly obese patients are at high risk for developing perioperative venous thromboembolism. A vast majority routinely use prophylaxis. Despite these measures, fatal PE is still widespread. A lack of consensus in the method of prophylaxis was seen. A multicentric randomized controlled study comparing the efficacy of the various methods of prophylaxis will be the only manner to determine the best prophylaxis and its usefulness. This study will be costly and probably not warranted due to the low incidence of this condition in the morbidly obese patient.