Reflux and Sleeve Gastrectomy
One of the most frequently asked questions by patients with reflux complaints is whether they are suitable for sleeve gastrectomy surgery. There are many studies on this subject and big data over 40 years. According to the information obtained from thousands of cases, the relationship between reflux and sleeve gastrectomy surgery has been examined. According to this review, there is no situation that would cause patients with reflux to be afraid of sleeve gastrectomy surgery, and on the contrary, it has a therapeutical dimension.
Can Reflux Patient Have Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery?
In people with reflux complaints, stomach acid goes to the esophagus for various reasons and creates a big problem in the person’s quality of life. Reflux disease, which rises in certain periods of the person, is directly related to the person’s weight, eating and drinking habits and exercise plan. The leading cause of reflux complaint is the loosening of the stomach valve called hiatal hernia. Due to the loosened valve, stomach acid often rises into the esophagus during the day. Another important reason is the increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Reflux is very common in people who experience bloatedness. This is especially seen in people struggling with obesity. There is no obstacle for patients with reflux complaints to have sleeve gastrectomy surgery following the necessary controls. The continuation of the weight loss process after sleeve gastrectomy surgery also reduces reflux complaints. In short, as the reflux is not an obstacle, there is also a decrease in complaints after surgery.
Which Obesity Surgery Should Patients Who Have Reflux Complaints Prefer?
Before undergoing obesity surgery, patients with reflux complaints should be examined and evaluated together with endoscopy. There is no obstacle for people who do not experience reflux intensely and whose esophagus damage does not reach serious levels in having sleeve gastrectomy surgery. If the reflux is caused by the looseness of the stomach valve, then sleeve gastrectomy and hiatal hernia repair are performed at the same time.
The surgery that is suitable for those with high esophageal destruction caused by reflux is gastric bypass surgery. In this type of surgery, the stomach valve system is disabled. This ensures automatic reduction of reflux complaints. Sleeve gastrectomy surgery aims to shrink the stomach in accordance with its method. This can cause reflux in the person. Having the same pressure in a lower volume stomach triggers reflux. Considering this problem, medication that reduce stomach acid can be used in the first 3 months after sleeve gastrectomy surgery. As the person begins to adapt to the low-volume stomach, the need for medication will disappear.
Things to Consider Before Obesity Surgery for Reflux Patients
Patients with reflux complaints should definitely inform the doctor before obesity surgery. Although a specialist physician listens to the person’s story closely, reflux may not be revealed both in clinics where the physician is not focused enough and in cases where the physician does not care. Knowing the presence of reflux complaint can both eliminate this problem during the operation and facilitate the selection of the right surgery.
Patients with a very simple reflux complaint should prefer sleeve gastrectomy surgery when choosing surgery. However, patients with high levels of damage to the esophagus should prefer gastric bypass surgery. Both types of surgery will help the person’s reflux in the long term.
While patients with loosening of the gastric valve have sleeve gastrectomy surgery, they also have the loosing repaired. In this way, two different operations take place at once. If the severity of the reflux is much higher, gastric bypass surgery is performed to quickly increase the comfort level of the person.
Does Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Improve Reflux?
Sleeve gastrectomy surgery has a very important place in obesity surgery. It is very successful both in terms of operation and in terms of the result obtained. However, it is closely related to reflux. If the reflux experienced by the person is caused by the loosening of the stomach valve, this problem is also resolved during sleeve gastrectomy surgery. In this way, the problem of gastric valve loosening that the person is faced with is eliminated. However, the person who does not have high-level reflux complaints may experience reflux after sleeve gastrectomy surgery. The reason for this is the reduction of stomach volume. Especially in the first 3 months after the surgery, almost the same pressure is kept in a much lower volume stomach. This naturally triggers the formation of reflux. People who suffer from reflux after sleeve gastrectomy surgery should be careful. He/she must both avoid acidic foods and drinks and use stomach medication during the adaptation process.
The biggest reason why sleeve gastrectomy surgeries fail is the adaptation problems experienced by the person. After sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the person should constantly motivate oneself psychologically. The process continues successfully with both self-motivation and motivation from the environment. The quality of life of people who start to experience reflux may decrease. The decrease in the quality of life can create a feeling of anxiety and failure in the person. In this respect, the comfort of the person should always be kept high with stomach medications. Thanks to a correct diet program, by keeping possible reflux complaints to a minimum, a much easier process begins with the passing of the first 3 months.
