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Global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (PACT Study): A survey of 634 bariatric healthcare professionals

International Journal of Obesity volume 46, pages 1341–1350 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (BMS) is a popular weight loss intervention worldwide, yet few scientific studies have examined variations in preoperative practices globally. This study aimed to capture global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients planned for BMS.

Methods

A 41-item questionnaire-based survey was designed and the survey link was freely distributed on social and scientific media platforms, email groups and circulated through personal connections of authors. The survey included eight parts: basic information; criteria for BMS; preoperative nutritional screening; preoperative weight loss; preoperative diets for liver size reduction; preoperative glycemic control; other laboratory investigations and preparations; decision making, education, and consents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data and graphs were used for representation where applicable.

Results

Six hundred thirty-four bariatric healthcare professionals from 76 countries/regions completed the survey. Of these, n = 310 (48.9%) were from public hospitals, n = 466 (73.5%) were surgeons, and the rest were multidisciplinary professionals. More than half of respondents reported using local society/association guidelines in their practice (n = 310, 61.6%). The great majority of respondents routinely recommend nutritional screening preoperatively (n = 385, 77.5%), mandatory preoperative diets for liver size reduction (n = 220, 53.1%), routine screening for T2DM (n = 371, 90.7%), and mandate a glycemic control target before BMS in patients with T2DM (n = 203, 55.6%). However, less than half (n = 183, 43.9%) recommend mandatory preoperative weight loss to all patients. Most respondents (n = 296, 77.1%) recommend psychological intervention before surgery for patients diagnosed with psychological conditions. Variations were also identified in laboratory investigations and optimisation; and in the aspects of decision making, education and consent.

Conclusions

This survey identified significant global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary BMS. Our findings could facilitate future research for the determination of best practice in these areas of variations, and consensus-building to guide clinical practice while we wait for that evidence to emerge.

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Fig. 1: Liver reducing diet (n = 341).
Fig. 2: Liver reducing diet duration (n = 341).
Fig. 3: Routine screening for T2DM (n = 365).
Fig. 4: Core members of MDT (n = 374).

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

    Wah Yang

  2. Jinan University Institute of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, Guangzhou, China

    Wah Yang

  3. Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint University Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Medicine, Guangzhou, China

    Wah Yang

  4. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK

    Sally Abbott

  5. Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Sally Abbott

  6. University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, London, UK

    Cynthia-Michelle Borg

  7. Patient Representative, Liverpool, UK

    Paul Chesworth

  8. Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK

    Yitka Graham & Kamal Mahawar

  9. Faculdad de Psicologia, Universidad de Anahuac, Mexico City, Mexico

    Yitka Graham

  10. Bariatric Unit, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland, UK

    Yitka Graham & Kamal Mahawar

  11. Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

    Jennifer Logue

  12. School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Jane Ogden

  13. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK

    Mary O’Kane

  14. Phoenix Health, Chester, UK

    Denise Ratcliffe

  15. Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel

    Shiri Sherf-Dagan

  16. Department of Nutrition, Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Shiri Sherf-Dagan

  17. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

    Rishi Singhal

  18. University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Rishi Singhal

  19. E-Weightloss Surgery Ltd, Bristol, UK

    Vanessa Snowdon-Carr

  20. Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Abd Tahrani

  21. Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

    Abd Tahrani

  22. Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK

    Abd Tahrani

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  1. Wah Yang
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Contributions

WY and KM conceived and designed the idea, wrote, and drafted the manuscript. WY, YG, and KM led the data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation with input from all authors. All authors contributed to the survey design, survey distribution, data collection, editing, and revising the manuscript, and have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wah Yang.

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Competing interests

MOK has been paid honoraria by Novo Nordisk for services provided/consultancy and Johnson and Johnson for educational activities. AT reports grants from Novo Nordisk, personal fees from Novo Nordisk, non-financial support from Novo Nordisk, personal fees from Eli Lilly, non-financial support from Eli Lilly, personal fees from Janssen, personal fees from AZ, non-financial support from AZ, non-financial support from Impeto medical, non-financial support from Resmed, non-financial support from Aptiva, personal fees from BI, non-financial support from BI, personal fees from BMS, non-financial support from BMS, personal fees from NAPP, non-financial support from NAPP, personal fees from MSD, non-financial support from MSD, personal fees from Nestle, personal fees from Gilead, grants from Sanofi, and personal fees from Sanofi outside the submitted work. AAT is currently an employee of Novo Nordisk. This work was performed before AAT became a Novo Nordisk employee and Novo Nordisk had no role in this project. KM has been paid honoraria by Ethicon, Medtronic, Gore, Olympus, and various NHS trusts for educational activities and mentoring colleagues through One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Yang, W., Abbott, S., Borg, CM. et al. Global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (PACT Study): A survey of 634 bariatric healthcare professionals. Int J Obes 46, 1341–1350 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01119-x

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