Follow-Up of Nutritional and Metabolic Problems After Bariatric Surgery

In 2005, Ken Fujioka, MD, discussed the importance of long-term follow-up for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, particularly the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, due to potential nutritional and metabolic complications. The commentary emphasized that while significant weight loss typically occurs within the first year post-surgery, issues such as vomiting, dumping syndrome, B12 and iron deficiencies, hair loss (telogen effluvium), gallstone formation, bone mineralization problems, and secondary hyperparathyroidism can arise. Hair loss was noted to be common 3-6 months after surgery but usually resolved on its own. The paper stressed that over 100,000 bariatric surgeries were performed annually and that physicians beyond the initial surgeon need to be involved in the long-term care of these patients to manage complications, which also include liver and kidney disease, and lifestyle impacts like frequent bowel movements and foul-smelling stool due to fat malabsorption.