[Effects of gastric bypass on erosive esophagitis in obese subjects].

BACKGROUND Obesity is an important risk for pathological gastroesophageal reflux. AIM To assess the effects of gastric bypass on obese subjects with erosive esophagitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty two morbid obese subjects (aged 16 to 70 years, 41 females) with erosive esophagitis at the moment of surgery were studied. These patients were subjected to a gastric bypass with gastric resection. They were followed with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy every one year, looking for the presence of erosions or ulcers in the distal esophagus. RESULTS The mean follow up period was 21 months. Prior to surgery all patients had heartburn or regurgitation and at two years after surgery, 97% were asymptomatic. Esophagitis was found in 97 and 6.5% before and after surgery, respectively. Two patients had an esophageal ulcer, that healed on follow up endoscopy. There was a 72% reduction of overweight on late follow up. CONCLUSIONS Gastric bypass is effective to control pathological gastroesophageal reflux in patients with morbid obesity.