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22h ago

High BMI and Black Patients Face Greater Minor Complication Risks After Bariatric Surgery

An examination of over one million procedures presented at ASMBS 2025 reveals a steady rise in minor post-surgical complications despite low rates of serious events.

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Overview

  • Patients with a BMI of 50 or more showed a 5.56% higher overall complication rate and a 3.21% increase in serious complications compared to the lowest BMI group.
  • Black patients experienced a rise in minor complications from 10.2% in 2016 to 15.0% in 2023, exceeding the increase among White patients from 7.6% to 12.1%.
  • Emergency department visits not requiring admission climbed from 6.1% to 9.1% and postoperative IV hydration treatments rose from 3.7% to 4.6% over the seven-year period.
  • Serious complication and mortality rates remained rare at approximately 0.4% and 0.1% respectively, with no significant differences between Black and White patients.
  • Researchers recommend stronger preoperative counseling, enhanced discharge education, and structured postoperative hydration plans to help curb the growing rate of minor complications.