Bariatric Medicine: Struggles and Lessons Learned in the New World of COVID-19

Impact of COVID-19 on Bariatric Surgery

Shahzeer Karmali, MD, FRCSC, MPH, FACS, FASMBS, DABS
Professor of Surgery
President, AMA Section of General Surgery and Alberta Association of General Surgeons
Medical Director, Edmonton Bariatric Specialty Clinic, 
Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Edmonton, AB

Dr. Karmali completed his Fellowship training in Bariatric Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Texas. He is Assistant Professor in Surgery at the University of Alberta and practicing Bariatric Surgeon at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Dr. Karmali's current trials include prospective clinical trial assessing sleeve gastrectomy as a primary bariatric operation, use of StomaphyX in gastric pouch reduction and usage of the intragastric balloon in Severe Obesity. His interests include endoluminal approaches to bariatric surgery and aboriginal health.

Presentation Overview:

Delays in the delivery of bariatric surgery in Canada in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been previously explored. Understanding the potential barriers associated with these delays may help in the implementation and delivery of enhanced bariatric protocols thereby minimizing healthcare system burden and improving bariatric delivery. Herein, we present the experience of a single-center high-volume accredited bariatric program in Edmonton, Alberta in 2020 and how we managed our bariatric center during this pandemic.