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Comparative Study
. 2013:2013:740312.
doi: 10.1155/2013/740312. Epub 2013 Jun 12.

A prior history of substance abuse in veterans undergoing bariatric surgery

Maureen Tedesco  1 , William Q Hua, Jessica A Lohnberg, Nina Bellatorre, Dan Eisenberg
Affiliations
Comparative Study

A prior history of substance abuse in veterans undergoing bariatric surgery

Maureen Tedesco et al. J Obes. 2013.

Abstract

Background: The rates of obesity and substance abuse are high among US veterans.

Objective: To examine weight loss and substance abuse rates following bariatric surgery in veterans with a history of substance abuse (SA).

Methods: A prospective database of consecutive bariatric operations was reviewed. Data for SA patients were compared to patients without a substance abuse history (NA). Behavioral medicine staff followed patients throughout the pre- and postoperative courses.

Results: Of 205 bariatric surgery patients, there were 74 (36.1%) SA patients. The mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 46.2 ± 8.1 kg/m², and percent excess weight loss at 12 months was 71.8%, 58.0%, and 33.5% for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and laparoscopic gastric banding, respectively, not significantly different than the NA group (P = 0.15, 0.75, 0.96). Postoperative substance abuse in SA and NA patients was 8.1% and 1.5%, respectively (P = 0.234).

Conclusion: A prior history of substance abuse is common in veterans undergoing bariatric surgery; weight loss results are comparable to the general veteran bariatric cohort. Rates of substance abuse are low postoperatively, but higher in patients without a prior history of substance abuse. Close multidisciplinary followup throughout the postoperative course is likely to be integral to the patient's success.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) in each group, after gastric banding (LGB). SA: substance abuse cohort; NA: no substance abuse cohort.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) in each group, after sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). SA: substance abuse cohort; NA: no substance abuse cohort.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) in each group, after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). SA: substance abuse cohort; NA: no substance abuse cohort.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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