Bariatric surgery in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an accessible path? Report of a case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Morbid obesity is an emerging problem in the inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] population. Bariatric and IBD surgeries share technical difficulties and elevated morbidity. However, nothing is known about the possibility of performing bariatric surgery in patients with a definite diagnosis of IBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of restrictive bariatric surgical procedures in IBD patients. METHODS Six patients with morbid obesity and IBD were operated on with restrictive bariatric surgery and concomitant or deferred IBD surgery. We compared BMI, excess weight loss, and perioperative complications of restrictive bariatric surgery in IBD with a control group of 95 bariatric patients. We also evaluated clinical, biochemical, pharmacological, and endoscopic characteristics before and after surgery in IBD patients. RESULTS Perioperative results, in terms of BMI, excess weight loss, and complications after restrictive bariatric surgery, were comparable between obese IBD and control patients. IBD patients experienced a significant postoperative reduction in BMI, CRP levels, WCC, and systolic blood pressure and a significant increment in hemoglobin levels. None of the patients reported signs of malabsorption. All the patients except one were able to discontinue steroids, were in endoscopic remission at 1 year, and were in clinical remission at the latest follow-up visit. Two patients halved azathioprine dosage. One patient had a postoperative clinical recurrence treated with adalimumab. CONCLUSIONS Bariatric surgery seems to be safe and effective in IBD patients. Concomitant ileocolic resection does not increase perioperative complications. Relationship between IBD and obesity remains unclear, but weight loss could be useful in the pharmacological control of IBD.