title: An update on best practice guidelines for specialized facilities and resources necessary for weight loss surgical programs.
abstract: The objective of this study is to update evidence-based best practice guidelines for specialized facilities and resources for weight loss surgery (WLS). We performed systematic search of English-language literature on WLS and facilities, equipment, and resources published between April 2004 and May 2007 in PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. Keywords 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. Evidence-based best practice recommendations from the most recent literature on specialized facilities and resources for WLS were developed. We identified 1,647 papers in our literature search; the 46 most relevant were reviewed in detail. Regular updates of evidence-based recommendations for best practices in facilities and resources for WLS are required to address technology advances and growing recognition of the need for adequate equipment and specially built nursing units. Key factors in patient safety include availability of trained personnel and specialized equipment for the care of extremely obese WLS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. dlautz@partners.org
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lautz
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jiser
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shikora
authors.forename: Sheila K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000592:standards*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012449:Safety; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss