CoViD-19 Pandemic and Bariatric Surgery in Argentina

Obes Surg. 2020 Dec;30(12):5170-5176. doi: 10.1007/s11695-020-05004-2. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

Abstract

Argentina was able to anticipate public health interventions in order to flatten the contagion curve of CoViD-19. Eighty-three surgeons answered an online survey to assess the impact of the pandemic on bariatric surgery (BS) in Argentina. Most of them showed a high economic dependence on BS. Near 90% of health institutions were on phase 0 or I. While 90% still performed other laparoscopic surgeries, BS was suspended. In many surgeries for nonsuspected CoViD-19 patients, high personnel protection resources were applied. Ninety-five percent offered virtual consults. Most surgeons would not change usual algorithms or techniques. To restart BS a scientific society recommendation was expected, including patient selection criteria. The opinions gathered by this survey were taken into account to elaborate official recommendations for restarting elective BS.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; CoViD-19 pandemic; Personal protective equipment; Public health regulations; SARS-CoV2.

MeSH terms

  • Argentina / epidemiology
  • Bariatric Surgery / statistics & numerical data*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Pandemics
  • Patient Selection
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surgeons*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Telemedicine / statistics & numerical data