Factors Associated with Increased Severity of Erosive Esophagitis 1 Year After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Weight reduction decreases gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) that damages the structure of the stomach may worsen GERD. We aimed to elucidate the factors associated with increased severity of erosive esophagitis (EE) at 1 year after LSG.

Data on patients who underwent LSG between February 2007 and March 2016 were reviewed. Endoscopic findings and anthropometric data before and after surgery were recorded. The severity of EE was assessed according to the Los Angeles classification; severe EE was defined as grade C or D esophagitis.

Totally, 316 patients were enrolled. Before LSG, 96 patients (30.4%) had grade A or B EE. One year after LSG, 215 patients (68%) had EE, including 136 (43%) with grade A, 62 (19.6%) with grade B, and 17 (5.4%) with grade C or D EE. One-hundred and twenty-seven of 220 patients (57.7%) without EE before LSG developed de novo EE following LSG. The incidence of severe EE after LSG in patients without pre-operative EE, grade A EE, or grade B EE at baseline was 3.2%, 6.8%, and 50%, respectively. Independent factors for an increased severity of EE after LSG were male gender (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.52-4.28) and post-operative hiatal hernia (OR = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.66-6.06).

The prevalence and severity of EE increased after LSG. Male gender and post-operative hiatal hernia are independent factors for an increased severity of EE after LSG. The incidence of severe EE after LSG is low for patients without pre-operative EE or grade A EE at baseline.