Bariatric surgery: is admission to the intensive care unit necessary?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the place of stay at postoperative and to verify medical-surgical complications that would justify admission to the intensive care unit, including death. METHODS Cross-over, prospective, open study that evaluated 120 patients who were submitted to primary bariatric surgery by video laparoscopy from May 2007 to April 2008 in a tertiary hospital. The Aldrete Kroulik index was used for release from the post-anesthesia recovery room and to define where the patient should be routinely referred for postoperative. RESULTS Among the 120 patients, 83 were women and 37 men with a mean age ranging from 35.4 ± 10.5 years (18 to 66 years), body mass index 45.6 ± 10.5. The time between hospital admission and start of surgery was 140.7 ± 81.8 minutes, surgery time was 105 ± 28.6 minutes, time of post-anesthesia recovery room was between 125 ± 38 minutes and length of hospital stay was 47.7 ± 12.4 hours, with 100% of the patients walking in 24 hours. The Aldrete and Kroulik index in the post-anesthesia recovery room achieved scores of 10 to 120 minutes in all patients, with a 100% survival . CONCLUSION Using the Aldrete and Kroulik index in the post-anesthesia of gastric bypass by video laparoscopy in primary bariatric surgery, no patient was admitted in intensive care unit and no major complication was observed.