Smoker? Overweight? Surgeons refuse to operate on those who won't quit bad habits first

Comorbidities can make operations difficult, so some surgeons have decided they won't operate until patients do what they can to present to the operating room in optimal health, according to a report from Anesthesiology News.

In particular, surgeons performing hernia procedures across the country have chosen to turn patients away if they do not strictly adhere to a postoperative regimen including weight loss, smoking cessation and/or nutritional supplementation, with priority given to smoking and weight matters.

"I make a deal with patients: When we go to the operating room, I will be an A-plus and you will be an A-plus. That's just non-negotiable. If they want to meet those goals, then we talk about surgery," said Michael Rosen, MD, in the report, referring to his practices in accepting patients for surgery.

The practice of turning patients away for elective operations can be controversial. For hernia procedures, however, management of preoperative risk factors can make a difference in lowering complication and reoperation rates — around one-third of patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction will experience complications, according to the report.

Surgeons compared notes on their practices on reducing preoperative risk factors for hernia surgery at the Americas Hernia Society annual meeting.

More articles on turnarounds:
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