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Adolescent Bariatric Surgery: A life saving procedure or another failing technique?
Blurton, Brooke
Blurton, Brooke
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Abstract
Lacking effective modalities to treat obesity in children puts doctors and nurses at the forefront of the ethical dilemma of saving a child’s life with a risky and poorly researched bariatric surgical procedure. The following information will dive into facts known about adolescent obesity in general, alternative treatments for obesity, the ethical dilemma experienced when deciding how and when to treat a child with bariatric surgery, and finally bariatric surgery benefits and complications. Informing the reader of the trend of treating adolescent obesity with bariatric surgery and the risks and benefits associated with treatment is the purpose of this paper. The most important point made by supporters of surgery is medication treatment and surgery only attempted if all other treatment modalities have failed (Paoletti, 2007). While highly controversial, bariatric surgery when studied has been the most effective treatment modality for childhood morbid obesity, but consequently also poses the largest risk (Camden, 2009). Studies of the risks and benefits of gastric bypass are currently being performed and need to be examined upon release to determine if the benefits of this uncertain surgery outweigh the risks associated, then indicators for surgery should be nationally published. Additional studies in the area of long term outcomes and consequences are crucial due to the complexity of the surgery and unique psychological and physical issues that adolescents face (Paeletti, 2007).
Description
Brooke Blurton is a native of Jetmore, Kansas. While at the KU School of Nursing, Brooke was recognized for her clinical expertise by receiving the highly coveted Clinical Excellence Award on three separate occasions (the most possible). She is a member of the Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. She was the recipient of the Doris Geitgey and the Pusitz Nursing Scholarships.
Date
2011-08-25
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Keywords
Bariatric Surgery, Adolescents