Decreased Prevalence of Nonspecific Functional Bowel Disorders and Increased Constipation in Patients after Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Banding

Abstract

Aim:

To examine the effect of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) as defined by the Rome III criteria.

Methods:

All patients fulfilled the French consensus inclusion criteria for bariatric surgery (BS). Patients eligible for BS, but did not undergo surgery, constituted the control group (n = 124), whereas patients that underwent LAGB (n = 93) and SG (n = 70) formed the two BS groups.

Results:

The control group was younger (p = 0.041). Dysphagia (22.1% vs. 9.7%; p = 0.005) and constipation (45.4% vs. 28.2%; p < 0.003) were significantly increased in operated patients; however, these factors were not significantly different between the LAGB and SG groups. In the presence of functional defecation disorder, the odds of constipation in the LAGB and SG groups were increased threefold. In operated patients, the number of nonspecific abdominal symptoms was significantly decreased from that in the control patients (16.6% vs. 33.1%; p < 0.001); this factor was not significantly different between the LAGB and SG groups.

Conclusions:

No differences were found between the LAGB and SG groups regarding the postoperative prevalence of FGIDs. Improved screening for FGIDs before BS may prevent increased prevalence of dysphagia and constipation.