Role of Routine Abdominal Ultrasound Before Bariatric Surgery: Review of 937 Patients.
INTRODUCTION
Routine use of preoperative abdominal ultrasound for patients undergoing bariatric surgery is controversial. Despite that some physicians routinely implement it, others consider it unnecessary and not cost effective because it does not have a clear clinical significance in the preparation of bariatric patients.


AIM OF THE STUDY
To investigate whether routine abdominal ultrasound prior to bariatric surgery affects the surgical plan or not.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
We reviewed medical records of patients with abdominal ultrasound before bariatric surgery in Rashid Hospital between June 2014 and December 2016. Patients were divided into four groups: group 0 included patients with normal abdominal ultrasound, group 1 included abnormalities that did not affect timing or type of procedure, group 2 included findings that did not affect surgical plan but needed postoperative follow-up, and group 3 included abnormalities that had a direct impact on the procedure.


RESULTS
One thousand one hundred twenty files were reviewed. Results were missing in 183 files, thus excluded; remaining 937 files were included. Mean age of patients was 37 ± 12 years, 589 (63%) were females and 348 (37%) were males. Mean BMI was 45.1 ± 9.8 kg/m2. Ultrasound was normal in 354 (37.7%) of patients and abnormal in 583 (62.3%).


CONCLUSION
Routine abdominal ultrasound does not seem to have an important part in preoperative preparation of patients before bariatric surgery. Further studies could be helpful in discussing this role and building up clear solid evidence and guidelines that could be approved by international bariatric associations regarding the indication of preoperative abdominal ultrasound before bariatric surgery.
['Abou Hussein|Bassem M|BM|0000-0003-2881-3540', 'Khammas|Ali|A|', 'Makki|Maryam|M|', 'Makki|Marwah|M|', 'Al Bastaki|Usama|U|', 'Al Mazrouei|Alya|A|', 'Badri|Faisal S|FS|']
D000005:Abdomen D000328:Adult D050110:Bariatric Surgery D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009767:Obesity, Morbid D011300:Preoperative Care D012189:Retrospective Studies D014463:Ultrasonography
Routine Ultrasound Bariatric Abdomina Obesity