Adolescent bariatric surgery program characteristics: the Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study experience.
The number of adolescents undergoing weight loss surgery (WLS) has increased in response to the increasing prevalence of severe childhood obesity. Adolescents undergoing WLS require unique support, which may differ from adult programs. The aim of this study was to describe institutional and programmatic characteristics of centers participating in Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS), a prospective study investigating safety and efficacy of adolescent WLS. Data were obtained from the Teen-LABS database, and site survey completed by Teen-LABS investigators. The survey queried (1) institutional characteristics, (2) multidisciplinary team composition, (3) clinical program characteristics, and (4) clinical research infrastructure. All centers had extensive multidisciplinary involvement in the assessment, pre-operative education, and post-operative management of adolescents undergoing WLS. Eligibility criteria and pre-operative clinical and diagnostic evaluations were similar between programs. All programs have well-developed clinical research infrastructure, use adolescent-specific educational resources, and maintain specialty equipment, including high weight capacity diagnostic imaging equipment. The composition of clinical team and institutional resources is consistent with current clinical practice guidelines. These characteristics, coupled with dedicated research staff, have facilitated enrollment of 242 participants into Teen-LABS.
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Electronic address: Marc.Michalsky@nationwidechildrens.org.
Marc P
MP
Michalsky
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Thomas H
TH
Inge
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Steven
S
Teich
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Ihuoma
I
Eneli
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rosemary
R
Miller
Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas.
Mary L
ML
Brandt
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Michael
M
Helmrath
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Carroll M
CM
Harmon
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Meg H
MH
Zeller
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Todd M
TM
Jenkins
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Anita
A
Courcoulas
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ralph C
RC
Buncher
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D052938:Bariatric Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
Adolescent; Bariatric surgery; Guidelines; Obesity; Program