Critical Analysis of Bariatric Procedures in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Ann Scheimann¹, Merlin G. Butler², Linda Gourash³, William Klish⁴

Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD¹, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO², Pittsburgh Partners, Pittsburgh, PA³, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX⁴

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder localized to chromosome 15 and considered the most common genetic etiology for the development of obesity. Although some morbidities associated with PWS including respiratory disturbance/hypoventilation, diabetes and stroke are commonly seen in obesity, others such as osteoporosis ^{i, ii} arising from diet restrictions, growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism as well as altered pain threshold/inability to vomit pose unique issues. A variety of bariatric procedures have been utilized to cause gastric stasis, decrease gastric volume, and induce malabsorption with poor results in comparison to normal obese.

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ⁱⁱHoybye C, Hilding A, Jacobsson H, Thoren M. Metabolic Profile and Body Composition in Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Severe Obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:3590-7.