Increased Belching After Sleeve Gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is considered to be an effective procedure for patients with morbid obesity. Belching is frequently reported after this procedure, but it has not been well studied in the bariatric population. This study aims to assess the changes in belching before and after sleeve gastrectomy, as measured with impedance monitoring. METHODS: In a prospective study, patients underwent 24-h pH-impedance monitoring before and 3 months after LSG. Using this technique, belches can be identified. Preoperative and postoperative upper gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ). RESULTS: Fifteen patients (1 M/14 F, mean age 42.2 ± 11.0 years, mean weight 134.5 ± 21.1 kg, mean BMI 46.4 ± 6.0 kg/m(2)) participated in this study. Belching occurred significantly more often after LSG, with an increase in symptom score from 2.9 ± 2.6 before to 5.3 ± 3.5 3 months after LSG (p = 0.04). The total number of gastric belches increased from 29.7 ± 11.7 before to 59.5 ± 38.3/24 h 3 months after LSG (p = 0.03). The total number of supragastric belches did not change after LSG. The number of swallows decreased from 746.9 ± 302.4 before to 555.7 ± 172.5 3 months after the procedure (p = 0.03). The number of air swallows tended to decrease (p = 0.08). Esophageal acid exposure increased significantly, from 3.7 ± 2.9 % before to 12.6 ± 10.5 % after LSG (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Subjectively (as reported by patients) and objectively (as measured by impedance monitoring), an increase in gastric belches is seen after LSG, while the number of (air) swallows tends to decrease after the procedure and the incidence of supragastric belches remains constant. The altered anatomy as well as increased gastroesophageal reflux after LSG may play a role in the increase of belching.

Association between postprandial symptoms and gastric emptying after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective bariatric procedure. However, postprandial symptoms can compromise its beneficial effect. It is not known if a changed gastric emptying and these symptoms are related. This study aimed to assess the association between postprandial symptoms and the gastric emptying pattern after LSG. METHODS: A gastric emptying study with a solid and liquid meal component was performed in the second year after LSG. Before the test, symptoms were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and during the test, symptoms were scored on a visual analog scale (VAS). Gastric emptying results were expressed as lag phase, half time of gastric emptying (T½), and caloric emptying rate/minute. RESULTS: Twenty patients (14 F/6 M; age 45.6 ± 7.7 years, weight 93.4 ± 28.2 kg, BMI 31.6 ± 8.1 kg/m(2)) participated in this study; 13 had a low symptom score (≤9, group I), 7 a high symptom score (≥18, group II). VAS scores for epigastric pain, nausea, and belching were significantly higher in group II. Lag phase (solid) was 6.4 ± 4.5 min in group I, 7.3 ± 6.3 in group II (p = 0.94); T½ (solid) was 40.6 ± 10.0 min in group I, 34.4 ± 9.3 in group II (p = 0.27); caloric emptying rate was 3.9 ± 0.6 kcal/min in group I, 3.9 ± 1.0 kcal/min in group II (p = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with postprandial symptoms after LSG reported more symptoms during the gastric emptying study than patients without symptoms. However, there was no difference between gastric emptying characteristics between both groups, suggesting that abnormal gastric emptying is not a major determinant of postprandial symptoms after LSG.

Effect of sleeve gastrectomy on gastroesophageal reflux.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is effective as a stand-alone bariatric procedure. Despite its positive effect with regard to weight loss and improvement of obesity-related co-morbidities, some patients develop gastroesophageal reflux symptoms postoperatively. The pathogenesis of these symptoms is not completely understood. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effect of sleeve gastrectomy on acid and non-acid gastroesophageal reflux, reflux symptoms and esophageal function. In a prospective study, patients underwent esophageal function tests (high-resolution manometry (HRM) and 24-h pH/impedance metry) before and 3 months after LSG. Preoperative and postoperative symptoms were assessed using the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ). In total, 20 patients (4 male/16 female, mean age 43 ± 12 years, mean weight 137.3 ± 25 kg, and mean BMI 47.6 ± 6.1 kg/m(2)) participated in this study. GERD symptoms did not significantly change after sleeve gastrectomy, but other upper gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly belching, epigastric pain and vomiting increased. Esophageal acid exposure significantly increased after sleeve gastrectomy: upright from 5.1 ± 4.4 to 12.6 ± 9.8% (p = 0.003), supine from 1.4 ± 2.4 to 11 ± 15% (p = 0.003) and total acid exposure from 4.1 ± 3.5 to 12 ± 10.4% (p = 0.004). The percentage of normal peristaltic contractions remained unchanged, but the distal contractile integral decreased after LSG from 2,006.0 ± 1,806.3 to 1,537.4 ± 1,671.8 mmHg · cm · s (p = 0.01). The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure decreased from 18.3 ± 9.2 to 11.0 ± 7.0 mmHg (p = 0.02). After LSG, patients have significantly higher esophageal acid exposure, which may well be due to a decrease in LES resting pressure following the procedure.

Nocturnal and daytime esophageal acid exposure in normal-weight, overweight, and obese patients with reflux symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association between BMI and esophageal acid exposure in a cohort of patients referred for esophageal pH monitoring. The contributing roles of hiatal hernia, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, and intragastric pressure (IGP) were investigated, with an emphasis on reflux in the supine position. METHODS: Esophageal manometry and 24-h pH-metry results were extracted from a prospectively collected database, and supplemental data (body mass, endoscopy results) from patient files. RESULTS: In total, 245 patients (mean age 52.2±14 years, 54% men) were included in this study. In the normal-weight subgroup (n=87), the median acid exposure time was 1.1% [0-8.1] in the supine position (with interquartile range 25-75%) and 7.7% [2.5-14.8] in the upright position; the total acid exposure time was 7.4% [2.7-11.7]/24 h. In the overweight subgroup (n=104), the median acid exposure time was 4.9% [0.3-13.3] in the supine position and 11.1% [5.4-16.9] in the upright position; the total acid exposure time was 8.9% [4.7-15.8]/24 h. In the obesity subgroup (n=54), the median acid exposure time was 4.1% [0.7-14.3] in the supine position and 10.5% [5-17.5] in the upright position; the total acid exposure time was 8.3% [5.3-14.7]/24 h. Supine acid exposure was significantly higher in overweight and obese patients than in normal-weight patients (both P=0.02). In overweight patients, a hiatal hernia was predictive of supine and total acid exposure, as was a decreasing LES pressure in both the supine and the upright position. In obese patients, increased IGP contributed toward an increased total acid exposure. Although an association between increasing BMI and acid exposure was observed, BMI was not independently predictive. CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity is associated with increased reflux, especially in the supine position. The most important factors that contribute toward reflux are the presence of a hiatal hernia and a lower LES pressure in overweight patients and an increased IGP in obese patients.