title: An audit to determine if vitamin b12 supplementation is necessary after sleeve gastrectomy.
abstract: Sleeve gastrectomy has increased in popularity over the last five years and it is likely to supersede gastric banding. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether vitamin B12 supplementation is required after surgery. The aim of this short report is to identify any vitamin B12 deficiency and highlight the necessity of post laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vitamin B12 monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of 66 patients underwent LSG in our institution. 25 patients were excluded as they had no postoperative vitamin B12 screening. 41 patients were included as screened for vitamin B12 and other micronutrients including selenium, serum folate, ferritin, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium and vitamin D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 5 male (12%) and 36 females (88%), 8/41 patients (20%) had Vitamin B12 deficiency, none of them developed macrocytic anaemia. 17/21 (81%) patient were vitamin D deficient and 9/21 (43%) exhibited low selenium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small group, a 20% prevalence of vitamin B12 was identified. As a consequence vitamin B12 monitoring and supplementation will be a standard of care in the early postoperative period after LSG at this institution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Level 6 Balmoral Building, Leicester, LE1 5WW UK.
authors.forename: Amar M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eltweri
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bowrey
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Williams
keywords: Anaemia; Anaemia OR sleeve gastrectomy; Cyanocobalamin deficiency OR sleeve gastrectomy; Sleeve gastrectomy; Vitamin B12 deficiency