Trends and Challenges in Prophylactic Anticoagulation in Bariatric Surgery: A 20-Year Bibliometric Study

Introduction:Although this bariatric and metabolic surgery is an effective treatment for obesity, it carries inherent risks, such as thromboembolic complications, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Therefore, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric review of the existing literature on anticoagulation in bariatric surgery, with a particular focus on prophylactic anticoagulation. Methodology:A cross-sectional bibliometric study was carried out using the Scopus database. A structured search strategy was designed to identify articles related to anticoagulation in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Results:A total of 155 articles published between 2004 and 2024. Of these, 67.74% were original articles and 23.23% were reviews. The countries with the highest number of publications were the United States (n = 62), Canada (n = 13), France (n = 13), and Italy (n = 13). Discussion:There was a significant increase in research production since 2004, with peaks between 2006–2009 and 2021–2022. Despite the increase in the number of publications, citation rates have decreased. The study highlighted the significant contributions of the United States and Europe but also showed a lack of global consensus and standardization in protocols. Conclusions:This bibliometric study highlights the growing interest in anticoagulation for bariatric surgery but also reveals a lack of consensus and standardization in protocols.