Identification of comorbidities and their management

Weight loss surgery (WLS) has become accepted as a treatment for obesity and many of its comorbidities. Current indications for WLS require that patients with a body mass index between 35 and 40 kg/m2 suffer from severe comorbid disease in order to attain insurance coverage for surgery. Obesity associated diseases including sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, cholelithiasis, thrombophlebitis, and pulmonary embolus may all affect surgical morbidity and mortality. Preoperative Identification of existing comorbidities may be necessary in order to secure access to surgical therapy and enable care givers to intervene in order to optimize outcomes.