Changes in Bariatric Surgery Procedure Use in Michigan, 2006-2013

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is the most effective therapy available for significant and sustainable weight loss in patients with morbid obesity. 1,2As a result of the increasing prevalence of obesity, improvements in perioperative safety, and expanded insurance coverage, bariatric surgery use has increased during the last decade. 3,4hanges in procedure use over time reflect emerging evidence regarding the comparative safety and effectiveness of available procedures. 1,2,5 An understanding of current trends in bariatric procedure use can inform primary care physicians counseling patients with morbid obesity who are considering surgical intervention.Although recent reports have documented an increased use of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in certain populations, 4,6 the extent to which this procedure has supplanted other procedures, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), is poorly understood.Moreover, it is unclear if relative use differs within clinical subgroups that might be predicted to have better outcomes with a specific procedure.To better understand current trends in bariatric surgery use, we examined procedure rates in patients undergoing bariatric surgery in Michigan between June 2006 and