title: Outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients >70 years old.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to report the outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients >70 years of age at a community hospital in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of prospectively collected data from patients aged >70 years who had undergone bariatric surgery at a single institution from 2002 to 2008. The data analyzed included age, preoperative and postoperative weight and body mass index, postoperative complications, and co-morbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 42 patients aged >70 years who underwent bariatric surgery, 22 patients (52.4%) had undergone laparoscopic gastric banding, 12 patients (28.6%) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and 8 patients (19%) laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The mean preoperative weight and body mass index was 127.4 ± 25.5 kg and 46.8 ± 9.3 kg/m(2), respectively. The mean postoperative weight and body mass index was 100.2 ± 17 kg and 35.5 ± 5.4 kg/m(2), respectively. The median length of follow-up was 12 months (range 1-66). The mean percentage of excess weight loss was 47.7% at 12 months, with 73.1% follow-up data. Complications included wound infections in 4 patients (9.5%), band removal in 3 patients (7.1%), anastomotic leak in 1 patient (2.3%), and megaesophagus in 1 patient (2.3%). No mortality occurred. The postoperative use of medications for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative joint disease were reduced by 56%, 54%, 53%, 66%, and 50%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bariatric surgery in carefully screened patients aged >70 years can be performed safely and can achieve modest improvement in co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, Florida 33331, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Mayank
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Jesus E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szomstein
authors.forename: Raul J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome