An evaluation of the knowledge of the surgical treatment of obesity among surgeons.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of obesity is currently the only effective treatment option for patients with excess body weight, especially morbid obesity and diseases caused by it. There are no studies evaluating the knowledge of surgeons in the field of bariatric surgery. AIM: To assess the knowledge of surgeons regarding bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was conducted among 143 surgeons in 2010-2011 during local educational conferences. The survey consisted of 10 questions dedicated to the fundamental problems of the surgical treatment of obesity. RESULTS: Theoretical and practical knowledge connected to the so-called "epidemiological awareness" in the surgical treatment of obesity was possessed by 25% of the respondents. Knowledge of surgical techniques is known to most surgeons. Reducing the "oncological risk" after bariatric surgery is known to only 27% of surgeons. Almost 80% of surgeons indicated a necessity of their further education regarding the surgical treatment of obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of Polish general surgeons in the surgical treatment of obesity is not high, with a high number of surgeons who possess knowledge of the operating technique, whereas only a quarter have a basic knowledge of the indication for surgical treatment. Most surgeons who participated in our study are awaiting educational programmes focused on this issue.

[Obesity and surgery]. / Miejsce chirurgii w leczeniu otylosci.

Obesity is a life-long, progressive, life-threatening, genetically related, costly, multifactorial disease manifested by excessive fat storage. It is often accompanied by multiple comorbidities including mainly hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypoventilation, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis and psychosocial impairment which influence the patients quality of life and ultimately limit their life expectancy. Conservative treatment of morbid and extreme obesity including diet, physical activity, behaviour modifications or pharmacotherapy is not effective in achieving a medically significant long-term weight loss. The costs of such therapy often exceed the costs of the surgical procedure. Surgical treatment of obesity was initiated over 50 years ago. Then the surgical methods were to lead to an increased excretion but finally did not prove useful. They were replaced by restrictive and malabsorption procedures. The first methods including vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) were introduced in 1982 while gastric banding in 1985. The second method including gastric bypasses or biliopancreatic diversion were implemented in the years 1966-1986. There are also some methods joining these two techniques. Nowadays as a results of minimally invasive surgery development, most of the operations can be performed laparoscopically.