Bariatric surgery outcomes in accredited vs nonaccredited centers

Editor's Note

In this study, the preponderance of medical evidence supports Center of Excellence accreditation for bariatric surgery centers.

This meta-analysis analyzed 13 studies that included more than 1.5 million patients.

Among the benefits of accreditation:

• 10 studies found a substantial benefit for risk-adjusted outcomes
• 6 studies reported a considerable reduction in mortality
• 8 studies showed reduced morbidity.

In September 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ruled it would no longer require Medicare patients to undergo bariatric surgical procedures at accredited centers.

Accreditation for bariatric surgery has been scrutinized recently for its impact on surgical outcomes. This study aimed to systematically examine the medical literature to examine the impact of bariatric accreditation on surgical outcomes.