The Role of Ursodeoxycholic Acid After Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Background: currently obesity and overweight are two of the major public health problems worldwide, which haunts the health of more and more young people around the world, as this problem advances so does medicine, treatments and surgical procedures, such is the case of bariatric surgeries, which can have a great positive impact on the lives of patients who undergo these procedures, however, there are also post-surgical complications, such as acute cholestatic syndromes, which are becoming more and more frequent, so finding and describing a treatment to avoid these complications could be a fundamental piece in the management of these patients. Methods: We conducted a purely observational and descriptive study by collecting data and information through a national and international literature review, where we selected control cases and meta-analysis which are detailed and described during this review. Results: During the last years the popularity of the use of ursodeoxycholic acid has grown, since it has been mentioned its use out of indications as a prophylactic treatment after bariatric surgery, this alternative may sound favorable for the treating physician and for the patient, since it is safe and avoids complications according to different studies. Conclusions: Multiple studies, including all those reviewed during this research show a highly positive benefit of the use of ursodeoxycholic acid, it is noteworthy that during this research, the only study that does not mention a positive effect of the use of ursodeoxycholic acid is the study of Muriel Coupaye et al. which mentions that no difference was found between the groups treated and not treated with ursodeoxycholic acid with 500mg/day.