Before Surgery

Bariatric Surgery expectations

Before the surgery, the patient, family, surgeon and nurse practitioner will gather to discuss what to expect. Topics will include:

• Expected benefits
• Realistic goals
• Long-term consequences
• Possible risks of the surgery
• Treatments, medications and changes to diet and activity after the surgery
• What medications and foods need to be stopped prior to the surgery, and when

Bariatric Surgery required testing

Before the surgery, patients should expect to undergo baseline laboratory tests, clinical consultations and diagnostic tests. These tests include:

• Blood work
• Sleep study to evaluate for obstructive sleep apnea
• Pulmonary function tests that measure the lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Electrocardiogram to evaluate the heart’s electrical activity, structure and function
• Psychological assessment
• An endoscopy, which is a test that looks at the inside of the esophagus and stomach to check for gastroesophageal reflux
• Chest x-ray