GERD after Bariatric Surgery: A Review of the Underlying Causes and Recommendations for Management

GERD after bariatric surgery is an ongoing concern for bariatric surgeons and their patients. This paper reviews the association of persistent or de novo GERD after multiple types of bariatric surgery, and focuses on the work up and management of GERD after SG.

Two recent large, multicenter randomized clinical trials have shown stronger associations between SG and GERD compared to RYGB. A large group of internationally recognized bariatric surgeons collaborated on 72 consensus statements to help guide the bariatric community on the subject of redo surgeries after SG, including as it pertains to GERD.

We present an algorithm that consolidates the best-practices recommendations of the work-up and management of GERD after sleeve gastrectomy, and mention areas of persistent controversy where future research is warranted.