The Impact of Cholecystectomy on Bile Reflux After One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass

Bile reflux (BR) is an issue after one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). Cholecystectomy can increase BR in patients without a history of metabolic and bariatric surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effect of cholecystectomy on BR after OAGB.

This prospective observational study was conducted between March 2017 and December 2022 including 34 matched adult individuals with a body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m² or ≥ 35 in the presence of comorbidities and gallstone disease in preop evaluations who underwent primary OAGB including 17 patients who had undergone cholecystectomy simultaneously or after OAGB (OAGB + LC) and 17 patients without cholecystectomy (OAGB). All patients underwent evaluations for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and bile reflux (BR) using various methods including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), the GERD-Q questionnaire, and a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan.

Thirty-four patients were included in this study. BR into the esophagus was not detected in both groups. BR to the gastric pouch was observed in 4 patients (23.5%) of the OAGB group and 6 patients (35.3%) of the OAGB + LC group (P = 0.452). BR to gastric remnant was observed in 6 patients (one and five patients in OAGB and OAGB + LC groups respectively) (P = 0.072). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, although it was clinically significant.

Cholecystectomy after OAGB is not associated with a change in the rate of BR in the gastric pouch but increases the incidence of BR into gastric remnant that may be harmful in the long term.