Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases Before and After Bariatric Surgery.

Obesity represents an important risk factor for the development of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, most notably gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but also dyspepsia, as well as other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain. However, the prevalence of proximal abdominal diseases and their relative complications are difficult to assess just on clinical evaluation; the presence of motor and endoscopic alterations are often asymptomatic, probably due to a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which determines an impaired visceral sensation [1,2]. The preoperative GI setting is dramatically changed after bariatric surgery, affecting both gut anatomy and physiology, and influencing the outcomes of GI diseases.