Bile reflux of the remnant stomach following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: an etiology of chronic abdominal pain treated with remnant gastrectomy

Background: Bile reflux gastritis of the remnant stomach following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) causing chronic abdominal pain has not been reported. We report a series of symptomatic patients with remnant gastritis treated effectively with remnant gastrectomy (RG). Objective: The objective was to report our experience with bile reflux remnant gastritis after RYGB and our outcomes following RG. Setting: Community teaching hospital. Methods: All patients undergoing RG were retrospectively reviewed for presenting symptoms, diagnostic workup, pathology, complications, and symptom resolution. Results: Nineteen patients underwent RG for bile reflux gastritis at a mean of 4.4 years (52.3 mo, range 8.5-124 mo) after RYGB. All patients were female and presented with pain, primarily epigastric (18/19; 95%), and described as burning (11/19; 58%), with 10 (53%) reporting nausea. Endoscopy was performed preoperatively on all patients with successful remnant inspection in 13 (68%), using push endoscopy (n = 10) or operative assist (n = 3), with 12 (of 13; 92%) biopsy positive for reactive gastropathy. Seventeen (90%) completed a hepatobiliary scintigraphy scan with 100% positivity demonstrating bile reflux across the pylorus. Surgical approach was laparoscopic or robotic in 18 (95%) with a hospital length of stay of 2.7 days (range 0-12 d), with no major complications or readmissions. Pathology of the remnant confirmed reactive gastropathy in 90% (n = 17). Ninety percent of patients (n = 17) reported sustained symptom resolution, and 11% of patients (n = 2) remained symptomatic at last follow-up. We followed all patients for a mean of 6.6 years (1-194 mo). Conclusion: Bile reflux gastritis of the remnant stomach is a new consideration for chronic abdominal pain months to years following RYGB. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy imaging and endoscopic biopsy are highly suggestive. RG is safe and effective treatment (Surg Obes Relat Dis 2017;13:1278-1283.) (C) 2017 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.