Bariatric Surgery in Children: Indications, Types, and Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to discuss the current state of surgical intervention for obesity in children and adolescents. Specifically, this review will discuss the different types of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) procedures, guidelines for patient selection, and recent findings regarding surgical outcomes and complications.

Recent findings: MBS is safe in adolescents and has also demonstrated sustainable long term weight loss and improvement in obesity-associated comorbidities. A recent prospective multi-institutional trial demonstrated BMI reductions of 3.8 kg/m² (8%) to 15.1 kg/m² (28%) after 3 years among adolescents undergoing the three most common MBS procedures. Moreover, MBS is associated with remission of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and abnormal kidney function in 65-95% of patients in the study. Childhood and adolescent obesity is a continuing problem that has not been adequately addressed by the medical community. MBS is currently the most successful strategy for significant and sustained weight loss and improvement of associated comorbidities. This review focuses on the different types of MBS, the selection and preparation of patients for surgery, and the expected outcomes and common complications.

Keywords: Adolescent bariatric surgery outcomes; Adolescent obesity; Bariatric surgery center; Metabolic and bariatric surgery; Severe obesity; Vertical sleeve gastrectomy.