The panelists did not reach a consensus on the relative importance of factors that contribute to weight regain, including physiologic factors, surgical failure (breakdown of anastomoses or suture lines or device failure), and noncompliance.
One audience member noted that the draft guidelines lack any mention of kidney stones, which are common in gastric bypass patients, and should be monitored with urine oxalate levels. Other audience members called for sections in the guidelines on dosing medications in bariatric surgery patients, such as GLP-1 medications and thyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism.
Dr. Kaplan serves as the principal investigator for studies with Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson, and GI Dynamics; as an advisory group member for Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson, Stryker Development, and C.R. Bard; and as a scientific board member for Gelesis and GI Dynamics.