Duke University surgeon Eric DeMaria, MD, has developed a 5-step scoring system to predict your risk of dying from weight loss surgery.
A new study of over 4400 bariatric surgery patients supports his system.
To determine your score, the doctors add up the number of risk factors you have:
- Body-Mass Index (BMI) Of More Than 50
- Male Gender
- Over 45 Years Old
- High Blood Pressure
- Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot In Lungs) Risk
If you score zero or one, you’re at low risk of dying from the surgery. Two or 3 is medium-risk. Four or 5 is highest risk.
This may help you and your doctor to determine if weight loss surgery is too risky for you.
For some patients, it may simply mean you have to reduce some risk factors before undergoing surgery.
For other patients, it may tell you that delaying surgery could put you at a higher risk of death.
But that’s ultimately for you and your doctor to decide.
