David R. Flum

TL;DR: Recommendations for the assessment of surgery based on a five-stage description of the surgical development process are proposed and the widespread use of prospective databases and registries are encouraged.

TL;DR: The overall risk of death and other adverse outcomes after bariatric surgery was low and varied considerably according to patient characteristics, andExtreme values of body-mass index were significantly associated with an increased risk of the composite end point, whereas age, sex, race, ethnic group, and other coexisting conditions were not.

TL;DR: There was substantial weight loss 3 years after bariatric surgery, with the majority experiencing maximum weight change during the first year, however, there was variability in the amount and trajectories of weight loss and in diabetes, blood pressure, and lipid outcomes.

TL;DR: Among Medicare beneficiaries, the risk of early death after bariatric surgery is considerably higher than previously suggested and associated with advancing age, male sex, and lower surgeon volume of bariatric procedures.

TL;DR: Incisional hernia repair is associated with high cumulative rates of reoperative repairs and the expectation that important measures of adverse outcome have improved in recent eras is not supported by this large population-based study.