Adolescents and Bariatric Surgery: Techniques and Outcomes
Nestor de la Cruz-Muñoz, Sarah E. Messiah, Edgardo J. Monzon Canales
- Dr. de la Cruz-Muñoz was selected as lead author of the adolescent bariatric surgery chapter in The SAGES Manual, a widely used surgical reference.
- The chapter covers candidacy, surgical options, expected outcomes, and how the care team supports young patients.
- Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common teen procedure, accounting for more than 86% of teen bariatric surgeries.
- Research shows adolescent surgery leads to lasting weight loss and improvement in diabetes, sleep apnea, and blood pressure.
- This reflects Dr. de la Cruz-Muñoz's national recognition, trusted to teach other surgeons how to care for young patients with severe obesity.
This book chapter in The SAGES Manual of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery provides a comprehensive review of bariatric surgical techniques and outcomes specifically in the adolescent population, covering indications for surgery in adolescents 13 and older, technique considerations unique to younger patients, weight loss outcomes, comorbidity resolution, and evidence-based perioperative management best practices.
About This Chapter
The SAGES Manual of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (Springer, 2024) is a practical reference for surgeons published by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. Dr. de la Cruz-Muñoz is lead author of its chapter on adolescent bariatric surgery, written with Dr. Sarah Messiah and Dr. E. J. Monzon Canales.
What the Chapter Covers
- Indications for surgery in adolescents, including current pediatric guidelines.
- Technical considerations specific to younger patients.
- Choice of operation; sleeve gastrectomy now accounts for the large majority of adolescent operations in the United States.
- Weight loss and resolution of diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.
- Perioperative care and the multidisciplinary team that supports teens and families.
Why It Matters for Patients
Long-term studies, including our 10- to 18-year follow-up, show that adolescent surgery leads to lasting weight loss and health improvements. Families can learn more about adolescent obesity and start with Am I a Candidate?.
Expert Commentary
Writing this chapter was a chance to pass on more than two decades of experience operating on teenagers. The goal is simple: help more surgeons care for young patients safely, so that fewer teens have to wait until adulthood for effective treatment.
— Dr. Nestor de la Cruz-Muñoz
Related Research
de la Cruz-Muñoz N, Messiah S, Monzon Canales EJ. Adolescents and Bariatric Surgery: Techniques and Outcomes. In: Ghanem OM, Husain F, Chen JY, Lim RB, Kroh M, eds. The SAGES Manual of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Springer, Cham; 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72309-4_48
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