Hormonal Status, Fertility, and Pregnancy Before and After Bariatric Surgery

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery: 39 pregnancies follow-up in a multidisciplinary team

BACKGROUND

We investigate the outcomes of pregnancy in women who undergone restrictive-malabsorptive procedure at Centro da Obesidade Mórbida-Hospital São Lucas (COM HSL-PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.

METHODS

All pregnancies started after the bariatric surgery and with estimated due date until June 2008 were eligible for the study. Only the first pregnancy of each patient was included in the data analysis. Data was collected from medical records.

RESULTS

Forty seven pregnancies were identified in 41 women. Eight of them were ineligible. There were 30 complete pregnancies and nine miscarriages (23%). Cesarean delivery was performed in 69% of the complete pregnancies. Mature infants occurred in 93.1%. Twelve pregnancies (30.8%) occurred in the first year after surgery. Vitamin B12 was low in 53.4% patients; folic acid in 16.1%, iron in 6.7%, ferritin in 41.7%, calcium in 16.7%, and albumin in 10.3% of the patients. Nineteen women (79.2%) had no complication during the pregnancy and two (8.3%) presented with internal hernia. The average of newborns weight and length on delivery were 3,037 g and 48.07 cm, respectively. Children from pregnancies started in the first year of post operatory had similar outcomes of children from pregnancies started after 1 year of surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safe and has fewer complications than pregnancy in morbidly obese women. However, the recommendation to delay the pregnancy for at least 12-18 months post-operatively should be kept.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery: a current view of maternal, obstetrical and perinatal challenges

With the increase in the number of bariatric surgeries being performed in women of childbearing age, physicians must have concerns regarding the safety of pregnancy after bariatric surgery. The aim of this review is to summarize the literature reporting on maternal, obstetrical and perinatal implications of pregnancy following BS.

METHODS

English, Spanish and Portuguese-language articles were identified in a PUBMED search from 2005 to February 2011 using the keywords for pregnancy and bariatric surgery or gastric bypass or gastric banding.

RESULTS

The studies show improved fertility and a reduced risk of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia, macrosomia in pregnant women after bariatric surgery. The incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and small for gestational age are increased. No conclusions can be drawn concerning the risk for cesarean delivery and the best surgery-to-conception interval. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin K, folate and calcium can result in maternal and fetal complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy outcome of women who delivered after BS, as compared to obese populations, is better and safer and comparable to the general population. Close supervision before, during and after pregnancy following bariatric surgery and nutrient supplementation adapted to the patient's individual requirements can prevent nutrition-related complications and improve maternal and fetal health.

Best practice updates for nursing care in weight loss surgery

The objective of this study is to update evidence-based best practice guidelines for nursing in weight loss surgery (WLS). We performed a systematic search of English-language literature on WLS and perioperative nursing, postoperative, anesthesia, and discharge published between April 2004 and May 2007 in MEDLINE, CINHAL and the Cochrane Library. Key words were used to narrow the search for a selective review of abstracts, retrieval of full articles, and grading of evidence according to systems used in established evidence-based models. From these, we developed evidence-based best practice recommendations from the most recent literature on nursing in WLS. We identified >54 papers; the most relevant were reviewed in detail. Regular updates of evidence-based recommendations for best practices in WLS nursing are required to address advances in surgery and anesthesiology, as well as changes in the demographics and levels of obesity in WLS patients. Key factors in patient safety include staff education, comprehensive admission assessment, patient education, careful preoperative surveillance and postoperative care, and long-term discharge follow-up.

Successful pregnancy following partial pancreatectomy after complications from a laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

Each year, increasing numbers of bariatric surgeries are being performed to reduce health risks related to obesity. The improvement in health for these patients has promoted an increase in the possibility of pregnancy for some woman. Because there are lifelong adjustments and the possibility of unique complications from bariatric surgery, pregnancy presents special nursing concerns. Very few cases have been identified in nursing literature discussing pregnancy after complications following a bariatric surgery. This article presents a successful pregnancy after a partial pancreatectomy was performed secondary to acute pancreatitis and ischemic enterocolitis as a complication of laparoscopic gastric banding.

Pregnancy outcomes after gastric-bypass surgery

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes of patients who become pregnant within the first year after surgery and those who delayed pregnancy until after 1 year after surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who became pregnant after their gastric-bypass surgery from 2001 to 2004. Endpoints included pregnancy complications, fetal birth weight and outcome, delivery method, weight change during pregnancy, and nutrition.

RESULTS

Of 2,423 patients who had undergone bariatric surgery from 2001 to 2004, 21 patients became pregnant within the first year after surgery and 13 became pregnant after 1 year. Similar outcomes were seen between the 2 groups regarding fetal weight, term pregnancy, and complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy outcomes within the first year after weight-loss surgery revealed no significant episodes of malnutrition, adverse fetal outcomes, or pregnancy complications. Anxiety over poor outcomes of pregnancy during the first year after bariatric surgery can be allayed.