Bariatric surgery in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and/or hiatus hernia

The effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass compared with omega-loop gastric bypass on weight loss, perioperative surgical events, and comorbidities

BACKGROUND

In comparison to conservative therapy, bariatric surgery has shown many reasonable results. The current study investigates whether Omega-loop-gastric-bypass (OAGB) or Roux-en-Y gastric-bypass (RYGB) improves weight loss, comorbidities, and perioperative complications.

METHODS

The study included 28,683 patients after RYGB and OAGB. Outcome criteria were perioperative morbidity, perioperative complications, and remission of comorbidities after one year of follow-up.

RESULTS

Of them 14,253 patients had completed a one-year follow-up (13,483 patients by RYGB and 770 by OAGB). BMI reduction was a significant difference in favor of OAGB (17.5±5.6 kg/m² for OAGB vs. 15.2±5.0 for RYGB; P<0.001). The %EWL was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.073). There was also no significant difference in perioperative complications between the two groups (overall P>5%). Significant differences in favor of OAGB were observed in remission of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (P<0.001), and sleep apnea (P=0.002). Remission of reflux was more observed in RYGB than OAGB (P<0.001). Operating time was significantly higher in RYGB than OAGB (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with RYGB, OAGB showed significant advantages in many respects. In particular, remission of comorbidities was significantly better after OAGB than in patients after RYGB during the one-year follow-up period. Nevertheless, many other factors such as medical history, long-term expected goals of bariatric surgery, and preexisting comorbidities should be taken into account when determining indications between the two procedures. Further studies with longer follow-up periods should be conducted to determine the efficacy of the two methods more accurately.

One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass in Patients with Gastrooesophageal Reflux Disease and/or Hiatus Hernia

INTRODUCTION

One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) offers favourable weight loss outcomes and is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality when compared to other mainstream bariatric procedures. However, a randomised trial reported a conversion rate to roux-en-Y configuration (RYC) of 3.1%, and some surgeons consider the procedure unsuitable for patients with a preoperative hiatus hernia (HH) or symptoms of gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective review of patients undergoing OAGB in our institution. Included were all patients on PPI for symptoms of GORD preoperatively, as well as patients with HH or oesophagitis on preoperative endoscopy. We recorded GORD outcomes as well as rates of conversion to RYC in patients.

RESULTS

Medium term follow up data at 23-28 months was available for 89 patients. Of these, 63 had HH, 34 had preoperative GORD requiring PPI and 9 had confirmed oesophagitis. The conversion rate to RYC was nil (0/63) in patients with HH. At the same time, 14.7% (5/34) of patients with preop GORD on PPI required conversion to RYC at a median time interval of 16 months. In patients already on PPI preoperatively, 16/34 (47.1%) needed to continue on PPI long term. In patients with HH, 20.6% (13/63) suffered de novo GORD symptoms.

CONCLUSION

OAGB can be offered to patients with HH with acceptable GORD outcomes but caution is advised in patients with preoperative GORD symptoms. Larger prospective and randomised studies are required to further assess this subgroup.