An Ongoing Dilemma Amid Obesity Pandemic: Is Obesity Surgery Feasible in Turkish Adolescents? A Multicenter Study

Abstract

Background:

A significant percentage of the adolescent population suffers from obesity and its related comorbidities in the modern era. However, the alteration of intestinal anatomy, lack of scientific evidence regarding its safety and efficacy, and various ethical obstacles make surgical intervention to treat obesity in this age group controversial. To address the short-term efficacy and safety of bariatric surgery in adolescent patients, we present the results of 170 adolescent patients with obesity in this study.

Materials and Methods:

The clinical data of 170 adolescent patients who underwent various bariatric surgeries from March 2012 to January 2020 were evaluated. The presented data include demographics, preoperative and postoperative 6-month body mass index (BMI), excess weight loss (EWL), total weight loss (TWL), comorbidities, pre- and postoperative medications, length of hospital stay (LoHS), and complications.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 17 years. The mean BMI was 43.9. In addition, 21.2% of the patients had an obesity-related comorbidity. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was the most preferred surgical method (94.1%). The LoHS ranged between 3 and 12 days, with an average of 4 days, and no patients required intensive care unit admission. The mean postoperative 6-month BMI, EWL, and TWL were 30.17 kg/m², 77.7% [17.5%−139.1%], and 31.32% [7.6%−55.8%], respectively. The change in mean BMI values was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). Perioperative and postoperative complications occurred in 1.8% of the patients.

Conclusion:

Obesity surgery can be safely performed in adolescents, yielding desirable short-term outcomes and acceptable perioperative complication rates when conducted by adult bariatric and metabolic surgeons.