Prevalence of Barrett's Esophagus in Bariatric Patients Undergoing Sleeve Gastrectomy

The appearance and incidence of gastroesophageal reflux after sleeve gastrectomy is not yet resolved, and there is an important controversy in the literature. No publications regarding the appearance of Barrett's esophagus after sleeve gastrectomy are present in the current literature.

The purpose of this paper was to report the incidence of Barrett's esophagus in patients submitted to sleeve.

Two hundred thirty-one patients are included in this study who were submitted to sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity. None had Barrett's esophagus. Postoperative upper endoscopy control was routinely performed 1 month after surgery and 1 year after the operation, all completed the follow-up in the first year, 188 in the second year, 123 in the third year, 108 in the fifth year, and 66 patients over 5 years after surgery.

Among 231 patients operated on and followed clinically, reflux symptoms were detected in 57 (23.2%). Erosive esophagitis was found in 38 patients (15.5%), and histological examination confirmed Barrett's esophagus in 3/231 cases (1.2%) with presence of intestinal metaplasia.

Bariatric surgeons should be aware of the association of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease and obesity. Appropriate bariatric surgery should be indicated in order to prevent the occurrence of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus.