The Influence of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Corpus Gastritis on the Postoperative Outcomes of Laparoscopic Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is linked to weight control through gastric inflammation-induced deregulation of satiety-related hormone, and eradication of HP before a weight reduction operation has been advocated. We aimed to examine the impact of HP infection and corpus gastritis on preoperative patient characteristics, postoperative complications and weight loss following laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVBG). Methods: A prospective cohort of 152 patients undergoing LVBG was enrolled. Gastric specimens at the corpus were obtained during LVBG operation and scored histologically according to the Sydney classification of gastritis. Excess weight loss, and early and late complications following LVBG, were recorded and correlated. Results: 63 and 89 patients were identified as HP positive and negative groups respectively. The prevalence of individual components of the metabolic syndrome was comparable in both groups except hypertension. The occurrence of early and late complications, either minor or major, in both groups was similar. The severity of gastritis was correlated positively with age and negatively with preoperative BMI and excess weight. Patients with higher neutrophil activity, chronic inflammation, and HP density experienced less excess weight loss at 24 to 48 months follow-up. The impact of gastritis on weight loss became less recognizable after 48 months follow-up. Conclusions: HP infection and gastric inflammation play a significant role in the amount of weight loss after LVBG. Further prospective studies should examine possible mechanisms and long-term effects on weight loss to determine the utility of preventive eradication of HP in different types of bariatric surgery.