Reflux-Related Abnormalities at Distal oesophagus, Gastric Pouch and Anastomotic Site 4 Years After OAGB: Diagnostic Accuracies of Endoscopy Compared to Biopsy and of Symptoms Compared to Both.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the current study is to appraise the diagnostic accuracy of upper endoscopy (UE) vs histopathological assessment of patients after one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), and the presence/absence of symptoms vs these two diagnostic modalities.

Methods: Retrospective study of 50 consecutive patients who underwent OAGB during April 2019-April 2020 and consented to participate. Symptoms (symptoms score questionnaire), macroscopic and microscopic data were collected 4 years later to assess distal oesophageal, gastric pouch and anastomotic site changes. Diagnostic accuracies (sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values) of UE vs biopsy and symptoms vs both were assessed.

Results: Mean age was 48.6 ± 13.3 years; 66% were females. At 4 years, 54% had symptoms (symptom score ≥ 4). There were no dysplasia or cancer among this series. UE abnormalities included non-erosive gastritis (44%) and ulcer/s or erosive gastritis (16% each); histopathology abnormalities included chronic gastritis (80%) and Barrett's oesophagus (14%). For UE compared to biopsy, highest sensitivity (76.5%) was at the level of distal oesophagus and highest specificity (100%) at anastomotic site. Pertaining to symptoms compared to investigative modality, highest sensitivity (81.5%) was in relation to symptoms vs UE, while highest specificity (82.6%) was for symptoms vs biopsy.

Conclusions: It is generally not recommended that (a) UE be used to forecast biopsy abnormalities or lack thereof, except at the anastomotic site, and (b) symptoms or lack thereof be used to forecast the findings of investigative modalities, except with caution, to forecast UE findings in identifying healthy individuals, or to forecast biopsy findings in identifying diseased individuals. Long-term routine follow-up is needed post-OAGB regardless of whether patients are symptomatic or otherwise to rule in or out possible macroscopic/microscopic pathologies. Further research on UE and biopsy findings post-OAGB and their relationships with each other and with symptoms/lack thereof are required to strengthen the thin evidence base.