Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy effects on overactive bladder symptoms

BACKGROUND: Morbidly obese patients may experience lower urinary tract symptoms. However, most studies focus only on urinary incontinence, with little regard to other symptoms as those suggestive for overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is commonly used to treat obesity; this procedure is effective, safe, and capable of reducing the impact of comorbidities associated with severe increase in body weight. Therefore, we investigated if LSG improves OAB symptoms in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 120 morbidly obese patients (60 men and 60 women), evaluated by history taking, comorbidity assessment, physical examination, urinalysis and urine culture, renal and pelvic ultrasound, a 3-d voiding diary, and the OAB questionnaire short form. Outcomes of these investigations were assessed 7 d before and 180 d after LSG was performed. Controls were obese individuals (60 men and 60 women) from an LSG waiting list. RESULTS: Symptoms of OAB were common in the morbidly obese cohort, affecting more women than men. Compared with untreated patients, patients treated with LSG had significantly reduced body mass index 180 d postoperatively; this outcome was associated with improvement in OAB symptoms, whereas no change occurred in untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: OAB symptoms improve in morbidly obese patients successfully treated by LSG.