Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y (RY) gastric bypass is an effective treatment for morbid obesity. However, little information is available regarding the gastrointestinal symptomatic outcome after laparoscopic RY gastric bypass for morbid obesity. The purpose of this study is to identify changes occurring in gastrointestinal symptoms after laparoscopic RY gastric bypass. A previously validated, 19-point gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire was administered prospectively to each patient seen for surgical consultation to treat morbid obesity. Patients rated the degree to which each symptom affected their lives on a 0 to 100 mm Liekert scale with 0 indicating absence of a symptom, 3 3 indicating the symptom was present occasionally, 67 indicating the symptom occurred frequently, and 100 indicating the symptom was continuous. The same survey was readministered 6 months postoperatively. The mean of each symptom (preoperative vs. postoperative value) was compared using Student’s t test with significance at P<0.05. Forty-three preoperative patients (age 37.3±8.6 years; body mass index 47.8 ± 4.9) and thirty-five, 6 months’ postoperative patients (81% follow-up; body mass index 31.6±5.3) completed the questionnaire. The result for each symptom is expressed as mean ± standard deviation of preoperative vs. postoperative scores. Significantly different symptoms include the following: abdominal pain 23.3±26.4 vs. 8.6 ± 13.5, P = 0.003; heartburn 34.0 ± 26.6 vs. 8.0 ± 14.0, P = 0.0001; acid regurgitation 28.1 ± 24.0 vs. 10.7±21.0, P=0.001; gnawing in epigastrium 19.3 ± 22.7 vs. 7.5 ± 16.0, P = 0.01; abdominal distention 38.2 ± 31.5 vs. 11.1 ± 19.2, P = 0.0001; eructation 27.7 ± 24.4 vs. 15.5 ± 16.9, P = 0.01; increased flatus 40.2 ± 25.7 vs. 25.2 ± 25.3, P = 0.005; decreased stools 5.4 ± 16.8 vs. 17.4 ± 20.0, P = 0.0005; increased stools 23.9 ± 26.7 vs. 6.5 ± 11.7, P = 0.0005; loose stools 29.7 ± 26.5 vs. 17.5 ± 20.0, P = 0.03; urgent defecation 34.3 ± 26.5 vs. 14.3 ± 19.3, P = 0.0009; difficulty falling asleep 44.1 ± 38.4 vs. 27.5 ± 32.9, P = 0.05; insomnia 42.4 ± 36.2 vs. 21.6 ± 30.5, P = 0.008; and rested on awakening 65.1 ± 33.8 vs. 30.5 ± 28.8, P = 0.0001. Symptoms that did not significantly change included the following: nausea/vomiting 17.2 ± 22.7 vs. 22.1 ± 19.9, P = 0.33; borborygmus 28.8 ± 25.2 vs. 26.8 ± 29.7, P = 0.75; hard stools 10.3 ± 22.9 vs. 7.1 ± 18.6, P = 0.56; incomplete evacuation of stool 17.2 ± 22.8 vs. 13.4 ± 21.7, P = 0.45; and dysphagia 10.9 ± 15.6 vs. 17.7 ± 28.4, P = 0.18. Laparoscopic RY gastric bypass significantly improves many gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by morbidly obese patients without adversely affecting any of the measured parameters. This information is useful in preoperative counseling to assure patients of overall symptomatic improvement after this operation in addition to significant weight loss and improvement of comorbid conditions.
