Obesity surgery
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Serum Lipoprotein A [Lp(a)] is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reduction of other risk factors such as serum triglycerides and serum cholesterol is seen after weight reduction but it has been difficult to demonstrate a similar reduction of Lp(a). In this study Lp(a) is studied following weight reduction after intestinal bypass surgery for obesity. ⋯ Lowered Lp(a) levels are correlated to substantial weight loss following intestinal bypass surgery for obesity.
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The pharmacokinetic variables of drug clearance and volume of distribution are usually corrected for body weight or surface area. Only recently have the relationships which exist between body size, physiologic function and pharmacokinetic variables been evaluated in the obese population. These effects are not widely known, and data on this and the effects of bariatric surgical procedures are scantily documented in the surgical literature. ⋯ Drugs whose distribution is restricted to LBM should utilize a loading dose based on ideal body weight (IBW). For those drugs which distribute freely into adipose tissue, the loading dose should be based on total body weight (TBW). Adjustment of the maintenance dose depends on clearance rates. In a few cases dosage adjustment depends on pharmacodynamic data, since drug clearance does not conform to these recommendations, for reasons which remain to be defined. Following bariatric surgery, in the absence of delayed gastric emptying or uncontrolled diarrhea, drug absorption rates are usually comparable to the non-operated patient.
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patient-controlled analgesia PCA is a rapidly spreading approach to the management of post-operative pain. The suitability of this method for the morbidly obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery has not yet been determined. ⋯ use of PCA in patients undergoing bariatric surgery has obvious advantages and appears to be a safe procedure.
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One-hundred and ninety-two obese patients presented for upper abdominal surgery, of which 110 received general anesthesia with opioid analgesia and 82 patients received general anesthesia with opioid analgesia plus a single-shot intercostal nerve block of 0.5% bupivacaine in 1: 200,000 adrenaline. A significant increase in the time to first post-operative opioid dose and a significant reduction in the number of doses over the first 12 and 24 h periods were noted in the patients receiving intercostal nerve block.