Short Term Detection of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Abstract Background Obesity has become one of the most important public health problems in the United States and many other resource-rich countries and transitional economies. As the prevalence of obesity increased, so did the prevalence of the comorbidities associated with obesity. For this reason, it is imperative that health care providers identify overweight and obese patients so that counseling and treatment can be provided. Objective Short term detection of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in morbidly obese patients after being subjected to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods This prospective case series study was carried out on 60 patients was conducted in Surgery Department, Ain Shams University Hospitals Bariatric Surgery unit in the period from June 2018 till June 2021. Results Our finding of GERD occurrence was 26.67% (16/60) of patients. So, if GERD with erosive esophagitis or Barrett esophagus or incompetent LES is diagnosed, SG shouldn’t be done. In these clinical situations that are independent of the BMI, Roux en-Y gastric bypass is indicated. Only in a very special group of patients with BMI between 30 and 35 and comorbidities, SG plus other antireflux procedure or hiatal hernia repair is accepted. Conclusion There is an agreement with other reports about importance of exclusion of GERD or hiatal hernia preoperatively. We recommend endoscopy before any operation for obesity to exclude hiatal hernia, esophagitis or Barrett esophagus.