K Leblanc, MD1, J J Tabor, MD1, T W Cook, MD2, B Allain1, M Hausmann1, K Kleinpeter1. 1Our Lady of the Lake, 2LSUHSC New Orleans
Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become a popular weight loss procedure in recent years. With the high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among the morbidly obese post-operative changes in GERD symptoms are of concern. Studies evaluating these changes so far have been conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in GERD symptoms after LSG using GERD-HRQL questionnaire.
Methods: Data was prospectively collected on 125 patients undergoing LSG. Each patient was asked to fill out a GERD-HRQL questionnaire pre-operatively and at follow-ups of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year.
Results: Of the 125 patients, 73.6% were female. Average pre-operative body mass index (BMI) was 45.85 (range 32-74.) Of the LSG patients, 21.6 % of patients reported a pre-op diagnosis of GERD. Postoperatively, patients with prior GERD showed an improvement in symptoms during early follow-up (1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.) However, symptoms returned to baseline on the 6 month and 1 year questionnaires.
Conclusions: Although initially showing some improvement in GERD symptoms, patient s with prior GERD returned to baseline symptoms at 6 months follow-up. Perhaps in this group of patients gastric bypass would be a better option.