RESUMEN
Intragastric balloon placement is a common method of treatment of obesity and is often used by non-surgical teams in endoscopy departments. The likelihood of spontaneous intragastric balloon damage is a well-known phenomenon. We describe a patient who was disqualified from surgical obesity treatment and in whom intragastric fluid-filled balloons had already been inserted twice and removed due to their intolerance. Therefore we qualified this patient for placement of the air-filled balloon Heliosphere BAG. Two months after the planned check-up, he arrived at the surgery department complaining of nausea and vomiting and due to symptoms of ileus diagnosed with an X-ray and ultrasound examination we qualified him for emergency surgery. We would like to emphasise the following issues: the necessity of air-filled balloon removal according to the producer's instructions and multidisciplinary specialist team care along with appropriate diagnostic tools in every case of intragastric balloon insertion.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of obesity is currently the only effective treatment option for patients with excess body weight, especially morbid obesity and diseases caused by it. There are no studies evaluating the knowledge of surgeons in the field of bariatric surgery. AIM: To assess the knowledge of surgeons regarding bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was conducted among 143 surgeons in 2010-2011 during local educational conferences. The survey consisted of 10 questions dedicated to the fundamental problems of the surgical treatment of obesity. RESULTS: Theoretical and practical knowledge connected to the so-called "epidemiological awareness" in the surgical treatment of obesity was possessed by 25% of the respondents. Knowledge of surgical techniques is known to most surgeons. Reducing the "oncological risk" after bariatric surgery is known to only 27% of surgeons. Almost 80% of surgeons indicated a necessity of their further education regarding the surgical treatment of obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of Polish general surgeons in the surgical treatment of obesity is not high, with a high number of surgeons who possess knowledge of the operating technique, whereas only a quarter have a basic knowledge of the indication for surgical treatment. Most surgeons who participated in our study are awaiting educational programmes focused on this issue.
RESUMEN
UNLABELLED: Bariatric surgery is currently the only effective treatment option for morbidly obese patients. There has been observed a considerable disproportion between the number of procedures conducted in Poland and the number of patients requiring such treatment. There are no studies assessing bariatric knowledge among general practitioners who play crucial role in polish health care system. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of general practitioners regarding bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire conducted among 282 general practitioners in 2010-2011 during local educational conferences. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions relating to fundamental issues of bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Only one twelfth (8.1%) of the general practitioners questioned knows the indications for bariatric surgery, can apply them, and has epidemiological awareness. 61.5% of general practitioners know the surgical procedures used for the treatment of obesity, whereas 58% of them show the knowledge of surgical technique in which they are performed. Only 23% of general practitioners were aware that bariatric surgery decreases cancer risk. 92% of the participants noticed a necessity of education regarding the surgical treatment of obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric knowledge among general practitioners is not adequate to scientific research results published during the last years. Most general practitioners who participated in our study are aware of that and are awaiting for educational programmes focused on this issue.