Takashi Oshiro, Kotaro Wakamatsu, Taiki Nabekura, Yuki Moriyama, Natsumi Kitahara, Kengo Kadoya, Ayami Sato, Tomoaki Kitahara, Tasuku Urita, Yu Sato, Makoto Nagashima, Masaru Tsuchiya, Shinichi Okazumi
The number of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSGs) performed in patients with obesity who are eligible for bariatric and metabolic surgery is currently much lower in Japan than in other countries. Considering the large number of potential patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes and the unique Japanese national health insurance system that guarantees fair healthcare delivery, there is room to increase the number of LSGs in Japan in the near future. However, strict health insurance regulations may limit access to mandatory devices needed to treat postoperative complications, such as staple line leakage, which can cause severe morbidity and even mortality...
May 16, 2023: Journal of Clinical Medicine