Resumo

CSENDES J, Attila et al. Pathological gastroesophageal reflux in patients with severe obesity. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2001, vol.129, n.9, pp.1038-1043. ISSN 0034-9887.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872001000900009.

Background: Overweight can be a risk factor for pathological gastroesophageal reflux or hiatal hernia. Aim: To study the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with severe obesity. Patients and methods: Sixty seven patients, 51 female, aged 17 to 56 years old with a body mass index over 35 kg/m2, were studied. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in all, esophageal manometry was done in 32 and 24 h pH monitoring was done in 32 patients. Results: Seventy nine percent of patients complained of heartburn and 66% of regurgitation. In 16 patients, endoscopy was normal. An erosive esophagitis was found in 33 patients, a short columnar epithelium in 12 and a Barret esophagus with intestinal metaplasia in six. Normal endoscopic findings and erosive esophagitis were present with a higher frequency in women. No association between the degree of obesity and esophageal lesions was observed. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure and abdominal length were significantly higher in subjects with a body mass index over 50 compared to those with a body mass index between 35 and 39.9 kg/m2. No differences were observed in 24 h pH monitoring. Conclusions: A high proportion of severely obese patients had symptoms and endoscopical findings of pathological gastroesophageal reflux (Rev Méd Chile 2001; 129: 1038-43

Palavras-chave : Body mass index; Esophageal motility disorders; Obesity.