Analysis of intra- and postoperative interventional endoscopic measures in 3000 bariatric surgical procedures over 15 years: a single center study.

In addition to preoperative diagnostic gastroscopy, some bariatric surgery patients require one or more differentiated endoscopic interventions as part of postoperative complication management. The aim of this study is to analyze endoscopic interventions regarding indication, type of procedure, material used, and outcome. We prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed data over a period of 15 years from 2006 to 2021 of all consecutive patients who underwent an interventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy after bariatric surgery at our center. The primary study objective was the type and frequency of the treatment. Secondary study objectives included clinical outcomes and postinterventional complications. Of 3000 bariatric procedures, 145 (4.8%), among them 11.1% (n = 54) of 485 Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses, 7.1% (n = 20) of 282 redo operations, 5.7% (n = 20) of 351 revisional operations, 3.3% (n = 13) of 398 sleeve gastrectomies, and 1.9% (n = 26) of 1394 one-anastomosis gastric bypasses, received an interventional endoscopy for postoperative complication management. 79.3% (n = 115) were female, mean age was 42.4 (± 10.7) years, mean BMI was 43.5 (± 9.8) kg/m². Complication after interventional endoscopy happened in 1.6%, revisional surgery was necessary in 0.5% (n = 3). Causes for endoscopic intervention were stenosis (52.4%), leakage/fistula (35.9%), intraluminal bleeding (13.1%), dumping syndrome (9.0%), and gallstones (1.4%). The performed interventions were balloon dilation (48.3%), stent therapy (33.1%), metallic clipping (12.4%), injection therapy (0.09%), bougienage (0.07%), vacuum therapy (0.06%), and pigtail therapy (0.04%). Endoscopic intervention is an effective and safe way of treating adverse events after bariatric surgery. Stenosis and leakage were the most frequent complications, with endoscopic balloon dilatation and stent therapy as the most frequent and successful treatment options. RYGB was the procedure with the most endoscopic interventional involvement. To better learn about outcomes of specific endoscopic techniques further studies preferably with larger multicenter samples are required.