Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
The most common postoperative complications of bariatric surgery are related to the GI tract, such as bleeding and ulceration75,76. Depending on the definition, the reported incidence of ulceration ranges from 1 – 20%75,77–84. It is demonstrated that the use of NSAIDs is an independent risk factor for the development of ulcerations85–87. Although NSAIDs after bariatric surgery are often proclaimed to be life-long contraindicated24,2524,25, NSAIDs are commonly used in bariatric surgery patients 86–88. Studies show that the majority of the ulcerations occur within the first year after surgery78,79,81, and therefore it can be speculated that the risk might thereafter be the same for bariatric surgery patients and other subjects. For now, it seems reasonable to conclude that NSAIDs are contraindicated in the first six months after bariatric surgery and that until there is more evidence, after these six months, the use of NSAIDS should be discouraged. There are no studies on the pharmacokinetics of NSAIDS before versus after bariatric surgery.