Role of Preoperative High-Resolution Manometry in the Identification of Patients at High Risk of Postoperative GERD Symptoms 1 Year After Sleeve Gastrectomy

Purpose Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has become the most common bariatric procedure, but it is often characterized by the onset of postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). High-resolution manometry (HRM) is a useful tool to detect risk factors for GERD. The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative manometric parameters as possible predictors of postoperative GERD. Materials and Methods This was a monocentric retrospective study. We analyzed 164 patients, with preoperative esophagitis/ GERD symptoms who underwent preoperative HRM and were submitted to SG (July 2020-February 2022). Results Postoperative GERD was observed in 60 patients (36.6%): 41 of them (68%) already had preoperative GERD symptoms, whereas the remaining 19 patients (32%) developed postoperative symptoms. Female patients developed postoperative GERD in a significantly higher fraction of cases as compared to male patients (82% versus 18%; p < 0.001). DCI (distal contractile integral) was identified as the only HRM parameter correlating with the presence of GERD. Patients with DCI <= 1623 mmHg*cm*s developed postoperative GERD in 46% of cases (n = 43/94), as compared to 24% of cases (n = 17/70) among patients with DCI > 1623 mmHg*cm*s (p = 0.005). At multivariable analysis, female sex (OR 3.402, p = 0.002), preoperative GERD symptoms (OR 2.489, p = 0.013), and DCI <= 1623 mmHg*s*cm (OR 0.335, p = 0.003) were identified as independent determinants of postoperative GERD. Conclusion All the patients with preoperative risk factors for reflux, such as GERD symptoms or esophagitis on EGDS (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), should be considered for an HRM. Moreover, when a DCI <= 1623 mmHg*s*cm is found, a bariatric procedure different from SG might be considered.