Risks of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is a major operation that carries significant risks. These complications occur with a very small, but unavoidable incidence:

• Bleeding requiring blood transfusion
• Leak of the stomach or bowel contents requiring reoperation
• Injury to the spleen requiring its removal
• Wound and abdominal cavity infection
• Pneumonia
• Respiratory failure
• Heart attack
• Blood clots in the legs and lungs (thromboembolism)
• Chronic nausea and vomiting
• Bowel obstruction
• Long-term vitamin deficiencies
• Failure to lose weight