Bariatric Surgery Research Paper

Nurses Role when caring for patients who have bariatric surgery;
The good, the bad, the ugly

Andrea K. & Jessie L.

Montana State University

Obesity affects more than one-third of U.S. adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Obesity is defined by World Health Organization as an individual that has a BMI greater than 30. Obesity alone can hinder a person’s daily living lifestyle. However along with obesity come several co-morbidities that can affect a person’s health and lifestyle in a negative way. Obesity related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and asthma. One alternative solution for obese patients’ to improve their quality of life is bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is the only weight loss method proven to achieve lasting, long term results (Kaser & Kukla., 2009, p. 3).
Bariatric surgery works on two principals:
4). Some of the most frequently practiced nursing diagnoses for the patient during bariatric surgery would be risk for ineffective airway, and risk for hypothermia. Bariatric surgery patients are especially susceptible to an ineffective airway during surgery because these patients “…tend to have decreased lung expansion due to an elevated diaphragm as well as less compliant lungs and chest walls…layers of fat on the chest wall and abdomen along with an elevated diaphragm increase the work of breathing” (Drake, D. J., & Lopez, C. C., 2005, p.5). It is the nurse’s job to closely monitor the patient’s work of breathing during surgery to ensure no complications