A prospective study of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms and quality of life 1-year post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

• Main Authors: Andrew G.N. Robertson, Andrew J Cameron, Brian Joyce, Phil Le Page, Bruce Tulloh, Andrew C de Beaux, Peter J Lamb
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Journal of Minimal Access Surgery
• Subjects: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; quality of life
• Online Access: http://www.journalofmas.com/article.asp?issn=0972-9941;year=2019;volume=15;issue=3;spage=229;epage=233;aulast=Robertson
• ISSN: 0972-9941; 1998-3921

Introduction: There are concerns that laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) can cause severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The aim of this study was to assess GORD symptoms and quality of life following LSG. Methods: A prospective study of patients undergoing LSG (2014–2016) was performed with follow-up by DeMeester Reflux/Regurgitation Score, Bariatric Quality of Life Index (BQLI) and Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) Score pre-operatively, 6 months and 1-year post-operatively. Results: Twenty-two patients were studied. Mean modified DeMeester Reflux/Regurgitation Score improved from 2.25 (±0.67) pre-operatively to 0.81 (±0.25) at 12 months (P = 0.04). At 12 months, two patients had symptomatic reflux, but overall satisfaction score was unaffected. Mean BQLI Score underwent a non-significant improvement at 12 months. BAROS Score showed all patients to have excellent (n = 19) or very good (n = 3) results (12 months). Conclusion: GORD symptoms improve for most patients' 1-year post-operatively. A small proportion of patients will develop troublesome GORD, but overall satisfaction remains high.