The Role of Endoscopy in Bariatric Surgery

In current bariatric surgical practices, the potential assistive role of upper endoscopy occurs on a daily basis. Although colonic pathology exists in bariatric patients as it does in the general population, this chapter focuses on the role of endoscopy involving bariatric surgical anatomy of the foregut. The role of endoscopy in bariatric surgery begins well before a patient undergoes an index surgical procedure. Four roles of upper endoscopy in the care of the bariatric surgical patient will be discussed: (1) preoperative, (2) intraoperative, (3), postoperative, and (4) forensic endoscopy. Emerging roles for flexible endoscopy in the development of new bariatric surgical approaches will also be addressed.