Objective To investigate the influencing factors of reflux esophagitis after sleeve gastrectomy and its plus procedures.

Methods The retrospective case‑control study was conducted. The clinical data of 130 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy and its plus procedures (jejunal bypass, duodenal-jejunal bypass) for the treatment of metabolic diseases in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2010 to August 2021 were collected. There were 34 males and 96 females, aged (32±8)years, with the body mass index (BMI) as (38±7)kg/m². Observation indicators: (1) incidence of reflux esophagitis before and after surgery; (2) clinical manifestations of reflux esophagitis and treatment; (3) influencing factors of reflux esopha-gitis after surgery; (4) follow‑up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi‑square test or Fisher exact probability. In univariate analysis, the median value of clinical variable was used for grouping and the chi‑square test was used for subsequent analysis. Multivariate analysis was conducted using Logistic stepwise regression model.

Results (1) Incidence of reflux esophagitis before and after surgery. Of 130 patients, there were 5 cases with Los Angeles classification grade A reflux esopha-gitis before the surgery, and there were 35 cases with reflux esophagitis after surgery, including 26 cases as Los Angeles classification grade A esophagitis, 8 cases as Los Angeles classification grade B esophagitis and 1 case as Los Angeles classification grade C esophagitis. There was a significant difference in the incidence of reflux esophagitis for patients before and after surgery (P<0.05). (2) Clinical manifestations of reflux esophagitis and treatment. The 5 patients with preoperative reflux esophagitis described with no obvious heartburn and acid regurgitation and did not receive treat-ment. For the 35 patients with postoperative reflux esophagitis, 22 cases described with heartburn and acid regurgitation, and 13 cases described without any symptoms. Of the 35 patients, 10 were treated with continuous oral proton pump inhibitors, 2 were treated with intermittent oral proton pump inhibitors, 10 were relieved by dietary adjustment, and 13 were not treated. For the 95 patients without postoperative reflux esophagitis, 5 cases described with heartburn and acid regurgitation, requiring continuous oral proton pump inhibitor treatment. The remaining 90 cases described no heartburn and acid regurgitation and did not receive treatment. (3) Influencing factors of reflux esophagitis after surgery. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the preoperative reflux diagnostic questionnaire scoring >0 and the occurrence of postoperative heartburn and acid regurgi-tation were independent risk factors of postoperative reflux esophagitis (odds ratio=7.84, 47.16, 95% confidence interval as 2.04‒30.20, 11.58‒192.11, P<0.05). (4) Follow‑up. All 130 patients were followed up for 17(range, 12‒60)month after surgery. The BMI, percentage of total weight loss, diabetes remission rate, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin of the 130 patients at postoperative 12 month were (25±4)kg/m², 31%±8%, 84.6%(22/26), (5.6±1.2)mmol/L and 5.9%±1.3%.

Conclusions The sleeve gastrectomy and its plus procedures increase the risk of postoperative reflux esophagitis. Preoperative reflux diagnostic questionnaire scoring>0 and the occurrence of postoperative heartburn and acid regurgitation are independent risk factors of postoperative reflux esophagitis. Dietary adjustment and proton pump inhibitor therapy can alleviate symptoms of reflux esophagitis, but cannot cure reflux esophagitis.