A study published in the Journal of Hepatology found that simultaneous bariatric surgery and liver transplant for severely obese patients is safe and improves long-term health outcomes.
Here are five things to know about the study:
1. Conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the 10-year study compares the results of patients who received only a liver transplant with those who received both a liver transplant and bariatric surgery.
2. The combined approach resulted in sustained weight loss, reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and lower risk of fatty liver disease recurrence.
3. The combined procedure also posed no additional risks compared to liver transplant alone.
4. “We’ve been amazed by the transformation our patients experience,” Julie Heimbach, MD, director of Mayo Clinic Transplant Center and the study’s senior author said in a news release. “This dual approach prevents long-term obesity complications like diabetes, heart disease and cancer, while also preventing fatty liver disease recurrence.”
5. While GLP-1 medications have become a popular method for treating severe obesity and supporting patients pre- and post-transplant, Dr. Heimbach said that they may not be effective enough to serve as the only treatment for severely obese patients seeking a “lasting goal of a healthier weight.”
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