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De novo gastroesophageal reflux disease after sleeve gastrectomy: role of preoperative silent reflux

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Abstract

Background

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become the most frequently performed bariatric procedure to date. However, LSG is known to worsen pre-operative and result in de novo gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Pre-operative evaluation reveals a high percentage of silent GERD of so far unknown influence on post-operative GERD.

Methods

Prospective data of patients undergoing primary LSG between 01/2012 and 12/2015 were evaluated. Pre-operative GERD-specific evaluation consisted of validated questionnaires, upper endoscopy, 24 h-pH-manometry, and esophagograms. Patients were followed-up with questionnaires every 6 months, upper endoscopies after 1 year and 24 h-pH-metry after 2 years. Silent GERD was defined as esophagitis grade > B and/or abnormal esophageal acid exposure in absence of symptoms. LSG was performed over a 32F bougie, hiatal hernias > 1 cm were addressed with posterior hiatoplasty. Excluded were patients with hiatal hernias > 4 cm, patients with incorrect anatomy (stenosis, fundus too large) and conversion to RYGB for early leaks.

Results

222 patients were included. Mean follow-up was 32 ± 16 months, mean preoperative body mass index 49.6 ± 7.2 kg/m2. 116 patients (52%) presented with post-operative GERD-symptoms, of which 85 (73%) had de novo symptoms. Of those, 48 (of 85, 56%) had no preoperative GERD and 37 (of 85, 44%) silent GERD. 57 patients (26%) had neither pre- nor post-operative GERD, 7 (3%) had silent pre-operative and no postop GERD, and in 19 patients (9%) GERD was cured with LSG. 31 patients (14%) stayed symptomatic. Of 56 patients (25%) with pre-operative silent GERD, 37 (of 54, 66%) became symptomatic.

Conclusion

LSG leads to a considerable rate of post-operative GERD. De novo-GERD consist of around half of pre-operative silent GERD and completely de novo-GERD. Most patients with pre-operative silent GERD became symptomatic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Yves Borbély, Esther Schaffner, Lara Zimmermann, Michael Huguenin, Gabriel Plitzko, Philipp Nett & Dino Kröll

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  1. Yves Borbély
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  2. Esther Schaffner
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Correspondence to Yves Borbély.

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Yves Borbély, Esther Schaffner, Lara Zimmermann, Michael Huguenin, Gabriel Plitzko, Philipp Nett, and Dino Kröll declare that they have no conflict of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Borbély, Y., Schaffner, E., Zimmermann, L. et al. De novo gastroesophageal reflux disease after sleeve gastrectomy: role of preoperative silent reflux. Surg Endosc 33, 789–793 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6344-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6344-4

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