title: Early effects of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Following weight loss surgery, many patients initially experience nonspecific foregut symptoms. Helicobacter pylori infection of the gastric remnant may be associated with foregut symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inception cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine consecutive patients being evaluated for weight loss surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy and H pylori testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Foregut symptoms were documented at routine post-weight loss surgery follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperatively, 24% of patients tested positive for H pylori. Postoperative foregut symptoms were significant in 48% of the H pylori-positive group, and 19% of the H pylori-negative group (P = .02). This increase remained even after controlling for age, sex, preoperative presence of antritis, type of surgery performed, and body mass index (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval,1.1-11.8). Patients with prolonged symptoms who tested positive for H pylori were given an eradication treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of H pylori infection in patients undergoing weight loss surgery is high, and a significant proportion of them have postoperative foregut symptoms. Consideration should be given to H pylori treatment in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Emory Bariatrics, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bruce J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ramshaw
authors.forename: C Daniel
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049088:Bariatrics; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors