The Association of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Dumping Postsleeve Gastrectomy

Abstract

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy is linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dumping syndrome. This descriptive cohort study aimed to determine the incidence of GERD and dumping syndrome and the associated risk factors among obese patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Materials and Methods: This study included consecutive patients who underwent LSG at a single-surgeon private clinic between January 2017 and June 2019. The GERD Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire was used to assess the presence of heartburn and/or regurgitation symptoms, and the Sigstad questionnaire was used to assess dumping symptoms. Results: A total of 318 patients underwent LSG at the single surgeon's clinic, and of them, 141 patients completed both the GERD HRQL and Sigstad questionnaires. We found an incidence of 4.96% for GERD and 17.0% for dumping syndrome. The use of proton pump inhibitor, body mass index difference, and fasting during Ramadan were associated with dumping syndrome. The time from LSG was positively correlated with GERD. Patients with dumping syndrome had higher GERD HRQL scores. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the incidence of GERD and dumping syndrome post-LSG is a variable. Further studies are needed to delineate the link between dumping and GERD post-LSG.