Issues of safety and quality assurance in bariatric and metabolic surgery from the Perspective of experts of the Society of Bariatric Surgeons

Introduction. Nowadays, bariatric/metabolic surgery is recognized as the most effective method providing long-term sustainable weight loss in patients suffering from morbid obesity, as well as effective long-term effects on the course of obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. At the same time, this type of treatment places high demands on the qualifications of both the surgeon and the institution where bariatric/metabolic operations are performed.

Goal. The Russian Society of Bariatric Surgeons, together with the ROH, was tasked with developing criteria for surgical competence and requirements for medical institutions that provide safe and effective treatment for obese patients.

The main provisions. Every surgeon working with bariatric patients, regardless of the type of medical facility, requires the necessary level of training and experience in both general surgery and surgical gastroenterology. Along with a team of bariatric surgeons, it is extremely important to have associated specialists. Depending on the equipment, operating hours and staffing of the medical institution, three levels of bariatric surgery care are offered in accordance with international practice.: 1) primary bariatric institutions (PBU), 2) existing bariatric institutions (DBU), and 3) High–quality Bariatric Surgery Centers (Excellence Centers) – CVCS. The issue of accreditation of bariatric institutions by the ROBH is relevant for the coming years from the point of view of monitoring by the ROBH. Indications and contraindications for bariatric surgery are regulated by the latest edition of the Clinical Guidelines "Obesity" and the latest edition of the Clinical Guidelines "Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in adults".

Conclusion. According to the experts of the Society of Bariatric Surgeons, the introduction of the above-mentioned positions into practice will contribute to improving the quality of bariatric services and will increase the safety of bariatric/metabolic surgery in the country.

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