Nausea, bloating and abdominal pain in the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patient: more questions than answers.
Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity. After surgery, patients may complain of gastrointestinal symptoms but their altered anatomy can make investigations difficult to perform or interpret. In particular, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) creates an excluded segment that is not easily accessible. We present a case illustrating some of the difficulties encountered when investigating the RYGBP patient complaining of nonspecific GI symptoms. Options are discussed for examining the excluded segment, and the diagnosis and significance of small intestine bacterial overgrowth in the RYGBP patient is reviewed.
Decker
G Anton
GA
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. decker.anton@mayo.edu
DiBaise
John K
JK
Leighton
Jonathan A
JA
Swain
James M
JM
Crowell
Michael D
MD
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D001765:Blind Loop Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology