Multi-Disciplinary Care in Metabolic Surgery

Dr. TSUI Tsun Miu - Council Member, HKOS

More and more evidence supports the metabolic and bariatric surgery to be the most effective and durable treatment for morbid obesity and its associated co-morbidities. However, the success is not solely contributed by the surgery alone but by the multi-disciplinary care team. Surgery is only a part of the whole treatment plan. The care begins with our fellow endocrinologists taking care of the patients’ metabolic syndromes and optimizing their pre-operative medical conditions such as glycemic and blood pressure control. Respiratory physicians and otorhinolaryngologists provide their care on obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Dietitians and physical fitness coaches educate the essence of healthy lifestyle. Anaesthetists and intensivists take care of the peri-operative challenges. Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists screen for and deal with the potential eating and mood disorders. Pharmacists assist on the checking of the drug interaction, compliance and dosage adjustment of medications during patients’ rapid weight loss period after operation. Last but not least, specialized nurses are also important in coordinating all the treatment plans offered to the patients. Paediatricians, paediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, cardiologists, nephrologists, haematologists, family physicians and the list of involved specialties also work tightly to deal with the obesity problems and associated co-morbidities.

We hope the establishment of The Hong Kong Obesity Society will help to gather the experts from various fields involving obesity care to share their experience and to provide the opportunity to learn from each other.