Omentopexy Effect on the Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms and the Esophagogastroduodenoscopy Findings in Patients Undergoing Sleeve Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has gained acceptance worldwide. However, SG has its own complications that need a specialized management. Omentopexy is a technique in which the sleeved part of the stomach is fixed to the greater omentum. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present work aimed to investigate the potential effect of omentopexy on the upper GIT disturbances in patients with severe obesity and undergoing LSG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included patients who were recruited for LSG in our institution from June 2019 to October 2020. Patients having no upper GIT symptoms, no esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) GERD signs, and no hiatus hernia were eligible for the study. Patients were randomly enrolled into the omentopexy group (underwent LSG with omentopexy) and the non-omentopexy group (underwent LSG only). Patients were followed up 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year after the operation. EGD was performed at the 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-five patients constituted the omentopexy group and forty-six constituted the non-omentopexy group. Omentopexy was associated with significant reduction in the early post LSG upper GIT symptoms, and less EGD evident reflux esophagitis at the 1-year follow-up (statistically non-significant). CONCLUSION: The current work adds a new evidence of the omentopexy benefits in patients undergoing sleeve gastrostomy, with an overall better outcome in regard to the upper GIT upset and GERD compared to LSG alone. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text]