Dr. Patrick Denard explains how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic affect surgery outcomes. They help patients lose weight to qualify for procedures and may lower complication rates, but they also cause muscle loss, so patients need more protein before and after surgery.
Hey, Dr. Denard, what's your take on GLP-1s and surgery? GLP-1s and surgery. So pluses and minuses. Okay. GLP-1s like Ozempic decrease your appetite, definitely lead to weight loss that can be beneficial. For instance, if somebody has a high BMI or they're overweight and they don't qualify to have surgery at a surgery center or even overall. Secondly, there's some data showing actually improved outcomes in people who take GLP-1s. That's probably because you get metabolic improvement, like lower glucose levels. So there's data, for instance, in shoulder that shows lower complications with use of GLP-1s. However, I think what needs to be understood or taken into account is that with GLP-1s, you lose protein or muscle mass, and so you need to offset that by increasing your protein intake. So I'm an advocate of GLP-1s prior to surgery based on the evidence that we have right now, but I think it needs to be done in a carefully managed way.
