Effects of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Quality of Life Related to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Purpose: Effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms are controversial. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of LSG on GERD symptoms in obese patients using a validated quality-of-life questionnaire. Methods: Records of 100 patients (median body mass index [BMI] 44.4 kg/m2, range 35-63.6) without hiatal hernia or severe GERD were analyzed. GERD symptoms were evaluated by GERD Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQL) questionnaire before and after surgery. Weight loss and comorbidity resolution were recorded. Results: Median GERD-HRQL scores decreased from 7 (range 0-44) to 3 (0-34) (P = .025) (median follow-up 56 months [range 7-136]). GERD-HRQL scores improved in 55 patients and worsened in 21; de novo GERD was observed in 10; no change occurred in 14 patients (differences being statistically significant: P = <.0001). On multilinear regression analysis, total preoperative GERD-HRQL score and postoperative BMI were independent variables for overall postoperative GERD-HRQL score: higher total preoperative GERD-HRQL score was associated with improved postoperative GERD-HRQL scores, whereas higher postoperative BMI was associated with worse total postoperative GERD-HRQL score. Resolution of diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea syndrome occurred in 84.4%, 68%, and 89.7% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: In obese patients, although LSG was associated with statistically significantly improved postoperative GERD-HRQL scores at mid-term follow-up in 55% of patients, only preoperative GERD-HRQL score and postoperative BMI were independent predictors of GERD after LSG. Higher overall preoperative GERD-HRQL score was associated with improved postoperative GERD-HRQL score. However, further research is needed to assess how to predict GERD outcome.