The Particulars: Recent research has questioned the validity of bariatric surgery accreditation and set the stage for CMS to evaluate such accreditation. Data are lacking on how outcomes of bariatric surgery performed at accredited centers compare with those at non-accredited centers.
Data Breakdown: A review of more than 275,000 bariatric operations found an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 0.08% at accredited centers, compared with a 0.19% rate observed at non-accredited centers. Mortality rates for stapling operations were 0.09% at accredited centers and 0.27% at non-accredited centers, whereas morbidity rates for these procedures were similar at both.
Take Home Pearls: Mortality rates appear to be four times lower for bariatric surgery performed at accredited centers when compared with non-accredited centers.
