Background: Recent advances in bariatric surgery have necessitated the need for careful preoperative assessment of comorbidities. Occult liver failure and gastrointestinal malignancies can cause serious complications in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate and obtain diagnostic guidelines for the identification, diagnosis, and management of asymptomatic occult liver failure and gastrointestinal malignancies in patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery.
Methods: This study was conducted qualitatively and by collecting the opinions of experts in the field of diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and liver diseases through telephone and face-to-face interviews. Experts active in this field were identified and their opinions on the diagnosis and management of diseases were collected. The data were analyzed to identify patterns and extract key points.
Findings: The findings showed that most experts emphasize the need for comprehensive tests, including liver tests and imaging scans, before surgery. Also, the need for specific protocols in the identification of gastrointestinal malignancies and for patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease was identified. Finally, a localized guideline for the diagnosis and management of these conditions was proposed.
Conclusion: Developing appropriate guidelines for the identification of latent liver failure and gastrointestinal malignancies in patients undergoing bariatric surgery can help reduce surgical complications and improve patient outcomes. It is recommended that specialists and medical centers pay attention to this guideline and be diligent in implementing it in order to improve the quality of services.