Obesity is an epidemic in most developed countries. Bariatric surgery is growing at an exponential rate, with more than 140,000 bariatric operations performed in the U.S. yearly. In keeping with the other manuals in the series, The SAGES Manual of Bariatric Surgery presents a practical "how to" approach to minimally invasive bariatric surgery.

"Bariatric surgery is an increasingly common procedure, but far from an easy one. Patient assessment and selection must be careful. Complications can arise quite often. Training levels can be uneven among clinicians.

Essentials of Bariatric Surgery.- The Rationale for Bariatric Surgery.- Overview of Bariatric Operations.- Identification of Comorbidities and Their Management.- Definition of Obesity and Indications for Surgery.- Preoperative Nutritional Assessment and Postoperative Dietary Guidelines.- Essentials of a Bariatric Program.- Psychological Assessment.- Preoperative Check List.- Postoperative Care Pathway.- Long-term Follow-up Protocol of Bariatric Patients.- An Economic Approach to Opening a Bariatric Practice.- Techniques.- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.- Lap-Band® and Adjustment Schedule.- Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch.- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Staged Procedure for Super-Super Obese Patients.- Laparoscopic Staged Roux-en-Y: A Staged Procedure for Super-Super Obese Patients.- Outcomes.- Outcomes of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass.- Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding.- Outcomes of Duodenal Switch and Other Malabsorptive Procedures.- Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents.- Which Operation Is Best?.- Complications.- Anastomotic Leaks after Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass.- Gastric Bypass: Gastrointestinal Bleeding.- Intestinal Obstruction after Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass.- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Stomal Stenosis.- Gastric Bypass: Marginal Ulceration.- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Infection, Slippage, and Hiatal Hernia.- Gastric Erosion Following Adjustable Gastric Banding.- Guidelines and Accreditation in Bariatric Surgery.- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Bariatric Credentialing Guidelines.- Reporting of Bariatric Surgery Outcomes.- The Betsy Lehman Center Guidelines for Weight Loss Surgery.- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Centers of Excellence Program.- The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Bariatric Surgery Center Network.