Resumen

CSENDES, ATTILA  y  MALUENDA, FERNANDO. Mortality of bariatric surgery: Experience in 10 chilean institutions. Rev Chil Cir [online]. 2006, vol.58, n.3, pp. 208-212. ISSN 0718-4026.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-40262006000300009.

Background: The prevalence of morbid obesity is increasing in Chile. Surgery is a therapeutic weapon with undisputed effectiveness, but not exempt of complications. Aim: To evaluate the mortality of bariatric surgery in Chile. Material and Methods: Ten groups, working at private clinics were invited to present their results with bariatric surgery in a meeting. The reported results are presented in this paper. Results: During the last five years, 4040 gastric bypass and 896 gastric banding have been performed in the ten centers presenting their results. The global mortality of gastric bypass was 0.32%. Pulmonary embolism was the cause of mortality in more than 50% of cases. Complication rate varied between 2.3 and 20%. The re-operation rate varied between 1.6 and 11.6%. There was no mortality associated to gastric banding. Conclusions: Mortality and complications associated to bariatric surgery in Chile are comparable with the figures reported abroad

Palabras clave : Bariatric surgery; morbid obesity; surgical complications.