Bariatric and metabolic surgery during the COVID-19 crisis: strategies facing two pandemics

Abstract

Since its first appearance in Wuhan at the end of 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has brought serious repercussions worldwide, Spain being among the most affected countries. This health crisis resulted in the cancellation of surgeries pertaining to both malignant and benign pathologies, including bariatric and metabolic surgery. Patients with morbid obesity, besides their delay in surgical interventions, are at high risk of contracting severe COVID-19. For this reason, once the epidemiological situation has improved in our hospitals and the necessary resources become again available, this surgical activity should be progressively restarted. The goal of this paper is to review the published literature regarding the main perioperative recommendations concerning safe bariatric and metabolic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.