Alcohol ingestion symptoms after sleeve gastrectomy: intoxication or drunkenness? A prospective study from a Bariatric Centre of Excellence

Purpose: The aim of this original research is to evaluate the effect of SG on alcohol intake symptoms, blood alcohol content (BAC), and alcohol metabolite levels. Methods: At 0–6–12 months after SG, BAC of patients was measured at 0, 15, 30, and 60 min, and then every 30 min, and urinary metabolite (ethanol and acetaldehyde) levels were measured 2 h after consuming a standard red wine drink. Symptoms perceived by patients were evaluated using symptom alcoholization post-obesity surgery scores. Results: Thirty obese patients (12 men/18 women; mean body mass index, 44 ± 4 kg/m2) who underwent SG were enrolled in this study. At 12 months after SG, no alcohol use disorder was observed and BAC tended to peak after 15 min, with alcohol intoxication symptoms (nausea/vomiting, flushing, and diaphoresis), and return to zero after 90 min of wine intake. Ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were significantly different at 12 months compared with the levels at time 0 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Following SG, patients exhibit a high BAC at 15 min after moderate alcohol consumption accompanied with increased metabolite excretion and intoxication symptoms. Level of evidence: Level III obtained from well-designed cohort analytic study.