Endoscopic Findings in Candidate Patients for Bariatric Surgery

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Bariatric Surgery

Background:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for various gastrointestinal diseases, including GERD, erosive esophagitis, and hiatal hernia.
• These conditions can influence the choice of surgical technique in bariatric procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal findings in patients undergoing preoperative assessment for bariatric surgery.
• To determine the impact of these findings on surgical planning and patient management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study.
• Analysis of a prospectively collected database of 704 obese patients.
• Systematic preoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2016 and June 2022.

Main Results:

• Gastropathies were found in 98.9% of patients; esophageal disorders in 11.6%.
• Prevalence of erosive esophagitis was 9.8%.
• 19.7% of findings required medical treatment, and 4% altered the surgical decision.

Conclusions:

• A strong association exists between obesity and upper digestive tract diseases.
• Routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is crucial for bariatric surgery candidates.
• Endoscopic findings can impact postoperative evolution and surgical strategy.