The Forgotten Element in the Resumption of Elective Bariatric Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Patient Consent!

Abstract

Safety comes first, and the sympathy with the postponed bariatric patients should not come at the expense of the proper standard of care. This study presents a survey of 266 bariatric candidates who were rescheduled for bariatric surgery after postponement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to assess their knowledge and expectations regarding bariatric surgery and the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. A total of 233 (87.6%) candidates believed that they were prone to a higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 24.4% of them believed that bariatric surgery, during the pandemic, would improve their immunity. A total of 27.8% of candidates attributed the responsibility regarding potential perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection to the medical personnel, and 10.7% of them believed it to be the surgeon’s responsibility.