Recommendations for the standards of equipping of the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Center

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in Poland and worldwide is constantly rising. High effectiveness of bariatric surgery has been proven in literature. It is recommended that bariatric procedures should be done by highly qualified surgeons with the appropriate, up-to-date medical equipment. Aim: The purpose of the study is to establish Polish recommendations and standards for the use of medical equipment for bariatric surgery centers. Materials and methods: The review of the present recommendations of the worldwide organizations and societies (including EAES, IFSO, SAGES) and guidelines was made. On the basis of current literature and authors’s clinical experience we proposed standardized protocol for bariatric surgical equipment. Conclusions: Relevant equipping of bariatric surgery centers and implementation of standardized perioperative and surgery protocols will result in significant improvements in bariatric treatment. This will ensure patients safety, a shorter length of hospital stay and considerably reduce the risk of morbidity. Moreover, it will contribute to the efficacy of the bariatric and metabolic surgery procedures, in accordance with the highest globally accepted standards.