Potential Hematology and Nutritional Complications of Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Bariatrics is a specialized field of medicine that deals with the etiology, prevention and management of patients with morbid obesity. Surgical and nutritional complications are two adverse effects associated with bariatric surgery. For patients in recovery, post-bariatric surgical treatment and management often involves the care of a hematologist. Long term nutritional problems may develop following bariatic surgery and should be considered by physicians, although long-term nutritional complications are often rare or just temporary. Multivitamin and iron supplementation are required as part of a patient’s prophylactic post-bariatric surgical management protocol; therefore, the patient’s adherence to vitamin supplementation should be checked during follow up appointments. This review aims to emphasize the potential multi systemic hematological and nutritional complications of bariatric surgery. Vitamin deficiencies such as iron and vitamin B12 sometimes affect patients and therefore physicians should be aware of this in the treatment of patients with a history bariatric surgery. Inquiring about a patient’s history of bariatric surgery needs to be one of the first questions to ask a patient who is presenting with vitamin deficiencies as this can cause multi system abnormalities. Many patients are lost to follow up after bariatric surgery and come back with complications. Therefore, the importance of maintaining follow up appointments should be emphasized.