7. THE CANCUN IFSO STATEMENT ON
BARIATRIC SURGEON QUALIFICATIONS
This IFSO* (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity) Statement is made with the intent to guide those surgeons interested in, or engaged in the practice of bariatric surgery.
To understand what qualifications are considered acceptable to the international community of bariatric surgeons (IFSO), it is based upon the IFSO's dedication to optimising the overall safety and long-term effectiveness of bariatric surgical procedures for those patients who qualify for this surgery.
The IFSO acknowledges that an average, formally certified, general surgeon may be technically capable of performing most primary bariatric surgical procedures. However, like any other area of surgery, the techniques which improve each surgical procedure's safety and effectiveness are exemplified by experienced and frequent practitioners of each particular type of bariatric surgery.
The IFSO also acknowledges that proper patient selection and education as well as short-, intermediate- and long-term management of primary bariatric surgery patients is extremely complex. This requires considerable experience and judgement which should best be learned from practitioners with in-depth experience in bariatric surgery.
IFSO therefore strongly recommends that prior to independently performing primary bariatric surgery, each surgeon meets the following minimal standards:
Be a fully-trained, qualified, certified general or gastro-intestinal surgeon who has completed a recognized general/gastro-intestinal surgery program;
Has completed a full training in all aspects of bariatric surgery, including patient education, support groups, operative techniques and post-operative follow-up with an IFSO or IFSO Affiliate Society-designated bariatric surgeon or one who has performed at least 200 bariatric surgical procedures and has five or more years experience in the field of bariatric surgery;
Maintains a well-informed, up-to-date knowledge of bariatrics and bariatric surgery literature such as contained in the journal Obesity Surgery;
Holds, or has applied for membership in an Affiliated Body of the IFSO or, if no such national body is available to him or her, to IFSO directly;
Has attended at least one meeting of IFSO or one of its Affiliated Bodies or one of its bariatric surgery courses;
Is personally committed to strongly encouraging the necessary education and life-long follow-up of his/her bariatric surgery patients;
Performs bariatric surgery in institutions where he/she has made every reasonable effort to obtain equipment, facilities and support systems adequate for the comfort and safety of bariatric surgery patients.
This IFSO* (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity) Statement is made with the intent to guide those surgeons interested in, or engaged in the practice of bariatric surgery.