Impact of Telemedicine on Post-Bariatric Surgery Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for patients and healthcare providers, especially those working with obesity and related health problems. E-health has emerged as a crucial tool for the follow-up of users undergoing bariatric surgery during this period, allowing remote monitoring of users' health status and providing access to virtual consultation with health professionals. This study aims to analyze the impact of the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic on the results of bariatric surgery, surgical safety outcomes, and user satisfaction with this follow-up. METHOD: This was an observational study with retrospective data collection. The variables were divided into several groups: health data and associated comorbidities, surgical safety, and satisfaction with telemedicine monitoring. RESULTS: Surgery significantly affected weight loss; in general, there was a 75% loss of excess weight. Comorbidities were reversed over time, with 50% of the subjects maintaining excellent levels. Most users were satisfied with the monitoring, and surgical outcomes were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up via telemedicine did not modify the results of bariatric surgery, which may suggest that it may be an option to consider for regular monitoring of the post-bariatric surgery process.