Nutritional Deficiencies in Patients with Severe Obesity before Bariatric Surgery: What Should Be the Focus During the Preoperative Assessment?

BACKGROUND: Nutritional deficiencies are a well-recognized long-term complication following bariatric surgery. The presence of preoperative deficiencies has been shown to be predictive of postoperative deficiencies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in a large sample of patients with severe obesity preoperatively, and to determine whether such deficiencies may be related to patient's sex, body mass index, or ethnic subgroup. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of data collected at the time of the preoperative evaluation. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Data were collected during the preoperative evaluation of 872 bariatric surgery candidates in a university hospital in Israel between 2011 and 2018. The patients were 72.9% women, with a mean age of 37.9±12.1 years and mean body mass index of 42.4±4.7 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutritional deficiencies according to blood assays. Data on anthropometrics, comorbidities, and demographic characteristics was also collected. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Baseline differences between patient subgroups were analyzed using independent-samples t test, analysis of variance, or χ2 test. RESULTS: Deficiencies of vitamin D, iron, folate, vitamin B-12, elevated parathyroid hormone and low transferrin saturation were present in 75.2%, 42.6%, 28.5%, 8.5%, 35.5%, and 70% of patients, respectively. Nutritional deficiencies were significantly more common among women compared with men for iron (45.9% vs 33.5%; P=0.002), low transferrin saturation (77.7% vs 44.6%; P<0.001), vitamin D (77.5% vs 69.2%; P=0.019) and elevated parathyroid hormone level (39.5% vs 22.9%; P=0.002). Iron, transferrin saturation, and vitamin D deficiencies were more prevalent in Arab patients compared with Jewish patients: 59.6% vs 36%; P<0.001, 80.2% vs 62.8%; P=0.003, and 85.1% vs 71.6%; P<0.001, respectively. Vitamin D and iron deficiency were more common among higher body mass index subgroups (P=0.004 and P=0.040, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a high prevalence of nutritional deficiencies, mainly of iron and vitamin D in bariatric surgery candidates. Patients at higher risk for nutritional deficiencies include those with higher body mass index, women, and Arabs.

Considerações nutricionais para cirurgia plástica em paciente após cirurgia bariátrica / Nutritional considerations for plastic surgery in post-bariatric surgery patients

A cirurgia bariátrica continua a ser o tratamento mais efetivo para obesidade mórbida e a mais associada a outras condições metabólicas tais como diabetes tipo 2, doença refluxo gastroesofágico, e apneia do sono obstrutiva. Na população obesa, deficiências nutricionais comuns incluem vitaminas A, C, D, e B12, folato, tiamina, ferro, ferritina, zinco e selênio. Com a perda de peso ponderal, muitos pacientes podem utilizar o contorno corporal para deformidades. Após perda de peso ponderal seguida de cirurgia bariátrica, os pacientes geralmente desenvolvem deficiência nutricional significante que aumenta o risco de morbidade e mortalidade pós-operatória com quaisquer cirurgias subsequentes. Alguns pacientes requererem avaliação adicional durante a doença, ou quando candidatos eletivos pré-cirurgia, devido a alterações no trato alimentar com objetivo de melhorar os resultados e prevenir complicações devido a deficiências nutricionais.

Bariatric surgery continues to be the most effective treatment for morbid obesity and most other associated metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. In the obese population, common nutritional deficiencies include vitamins A, C, D, and B12, folate, thiamine, iron, ferritin, zinc, and selenium. With massive weight loss, many patients may utilize body contouring for deformities. After massive weight loss following bariatric surgery, patients often develop significant nutritional deficiencies that increase the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality with any subsequent surgeries. Some unique patients will require additional evaluation during illness or when considering elective surgery due to alterations to the alimentary tract, in order to optimize outcomes and prevent complications from nutritional deficiencies.

Neurologic presentations of nutritional deficiencies.

Optimal functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system is dependent on a constant supply of appropriate nutrients. The first section of this review discusses neurologic manifestations related to deficiency of key nutrients such as vitamin B(12), folate, copper, vitamin E, thiamine, and others. The second section addresses neurologic complications related to bariatric surgery. The third sections includes neurologic presentations caused by nutrient deficiencies in the setting of alcoholism. The concluding section addresses neurologic deficiency diseases that have a geographic predilection.

Transtibial amputation with plantar flap for congenital deficiency of the tibia.

Disarticulation of the knee has been the preferred treatment for the severe type (Type Ia and Type Ib classification of Jones et al) of congenital deficiency of the tibia because of marked flexion contracture of the knee and loss of quadriceps function. In such cases, the disarticulated stump is often small and poorly covered by soft tissues because of dysplastic femoral condyles and calf muscles. Therefore, stump complications after disarticulation may prevent early aggressive walking exercises and delay independent ambulation. To overcome this problem, a greater weightbearing surface was created by a transtibial amputation with a short stump of the fibula using the flexed knee. By this method, the distal femoral condyle and the anterior surface of the fibula were used for weightbearing. In addition, coverage of the new weightbearing area by a neurovascular pedicled sensate plantar flap provided a more tolerable weightbearing site. The purpose of the current study was to report a 5-year-old boy with bilateral congenital total deficiency of both tibias, who was treated using this technique. The patient was ambulating independently 15 weeks after surgery. A transtibial amputation with a plantar flap is an alternative procedure to knee disarticulation for the severe type of congenital deficiency of the tibia.