Long-term Reflux-Related Symptoms After Bariatric Surgery: Comparison of Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

• Published in: Lung Vol. 191; no. 3; pp. 289 - 293
• Main Authors: Shitrit, Ariella Bar-Gil, Magen, Ada, Swartzs, Evan, Chen, Baruch, Matveychuk, Alona, Talker, Olga, Shitrit, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.06.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Cough - diagnosis; Cough - epidemiology; Female; Gastrectomy - adverse effects; Gastrectomy - methods; Gastrointestinal surgery; Gastroplasty - adverse effects; Gastroplasty - methods; Humans; Incidence; Israel - epidemiology; Laparoscopy - adverse effects; Lungs; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obesity; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Pneumonia, Aspiration - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Aspiration - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Surgical techniques; Tertiary Care Centers; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Israel; Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding; Reflux-related symptoms; Bariatric surgery; Pulmonary complications; Sleeve gastrectomy
• ISSN: 0341-2040; 1432-1750
• DOI: 10.1007/s00408-013-9454-8

Background Long-term pulmonary reflux-related symptoms following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) have not been reported. Methods We designed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent LAGB or LSG between January 2000 and December 2010. All patients provided detailed history and physical examination. We assessed both early and late reflux-related symptoms. All patients underwent spirometry and chest X-ray (CXR). Results The analysis included 307 patients who underwent either LAGB ( n  = 193) or LSG ( n  = 114). Mean age was 43 ± 12 and 46 ± 11 years, respectively; 144 (76.6 %) and 83 (73 %) were female, respectively. Similar rates of previous pulmonary disease were noted in both LAGB and LSG groups (10.9 vs. 10.5 %, respectively). However, more patients with sleep apnea were in the LSG group (13.2 vs. 6.2 %, p  = 0.03). The mean interval between surgery and the onset of pulmonary symptoms was longer in patients who underwent LAGB (72 ± 22 months) than for those who had LSG (36 ± 24 months; p  = 0.03). The overall complication rate was higher in the LAGB (7.3 %) than in LSG (4.4 %) group. LSG patients had significantly lower rates of morning cough (12.3 vs. 59.6 %, p  = 0.001) and postprandial cough (10.5 vs. 58 %, p  = 0.001) compared to the LAGB patients. Two cases of pneumonia occurred in each group. The mortality rate was zero in both groups. Conclusion Both surgeries are considered safe and without major reflux-related symptoms. There is a lower incidence of cough with LSG than with LAGB.