Best Hospitals for Weight-Loss Surgery

The HealthGrades study found a significant shift toward laparoscopic bariatric procedures. From 2004 through 2006, open gastric bypass procedures declined by 82%; during the same time period, laparoscopic procedures increased more than fivefold.

May advises that studies suggest that open procedures provide a more effective way to lose weight in the short term and indicate that they are more durable for the long term. Future studies will need to examine the long-term effects of the laparoscopic types of surgery.

Meanwhile, the total volume of bariatric surgical procedures in the U.S. continues to grow rapidly. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery estimates that such surgeries have increased 1,431% in the last decade, to more than 250,000 annually.

Even as the number of surgeries goes up, Dr. May says that only 1% of people who are currently considered morbidly obese are having surgery.

He adds, "The types of surgery are more varied now. They are better, safer and more efficient. As volume increases and more friends and relatives undergo the procedures, the popularity will only increase."

The study found that the complication rate for these surgeries continues to rise, increasing 6% from 2004 to 2006. One possible reason: Lower-volume facilities have higher complication rates.

"The tremendous variation we are seeing in quality among bariatric surgery providers underscores the importance of readily available quality data," May says. "Past performance is a relatively good indicator of the future."

Importance of Ratings

A typical patient having a bariatric surgical procedure at a five-star-rated hospital in one of the 17 states studied has, on average, a 65% lower chance of experiencing one or more in-hospital complications than at a one-star-rated hospital, and a 41% lower chance than at a three-star-rated hospital during 2004 to 2006.