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Bariatric Surgery Debate

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Summary and Ethical Considerations in Pregnancy Outcomes after Bariatric Surgery
Obesity continues to increase in the United States and affect overall health and wellness. Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 are overweight, while a BMI of 30 or higher is obese. In 2013, an estimated 57.6% of females were overweight or obese (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013). With the rise in obesity, the rate of bariatric surgery has risen. There were an estimated 220,000 bariatric procedures performed in 2008 in the United States (Nicholas & May, 2010, p. 4).
Background
It is established obesity has negative effects and causes increased risks during pregnancy. Does bariatric surgery have an effect on pregnancies occurring following …show more content…

Of the 102 participants fifty (49%) were classified as non-obese and fifty-two (51%) as obese at the conception of the pregnancies. The mean PPBMI for the non-obese group was 25.5 ± 2.3 kg/m2 compared to 37.9 ± 5.9 kg/m2 in the obese group (Stone et al., 2011). The obese group of women gained less weight during the pregnancy than the non-obese group. Preterm delivery occurrences at less than 37 weeks were similar between both groups at 32.0% for the non-obese and 28.8% in the obese group. Little difference was noted between the groups in the gestational ages at delivery and infant birth weights. Additionally, no clinically significant differences in the development of GDM, NICU or nursery admissions were noted. However the maternal obesity group had clinically significant differences in the cesarean delivery rate (63.5% vs. 36.0%, p = 0.010) and the development of PRH (36.5% vs. 8%, p = 0.010) in comparison to the non-obese group, these were statistically significant findings (Stone et al., 2011).
Overall, prior bariatric surgery improves overall health and has not been directly associated as a specific risk factor leading to delivery via cesarean section, while obesity alone could be attributed to the risk of cesarean delivery. This study also reflected the reduction of PRH …show more content…

Nurses working with pre-surgical female bariatric patients should counsel them on the importance in reaching a non-obese BMI prior to considering conception so their risk of developing PHR or delivery via cesarean can be reduced. Nurses working in Obstetrics should be aware of risks associated with previous bariatric surgery patients who’s PPBMI remain in the obesity category at

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