Upper gastrointestinal swallow study following bariatric surgery: institutional review and review of the literature
Obesity Surgery, 05/16/2012
Clinical Article
Brockmeyer JR et al. – The results of the study show that a positive UGI study for stricture has a specificity of 100 %. In terms of leak, which offers a much higher risk of significant morbidity and mortality, UGI was unable to find any on postoperative days 1 or 2. Based on the results of this study, the institution has stopped completing routine UGI on POD 1 following bariatric surgery.
Methods- Radiograph reports were reviewed from the period of January 2005 to July 2010.
- During that time, 129 patients underwent LRYGB, 209 underwent LS, and 12 patients underwent LAGB.
- Of those patients, 120 LRYGB patients, 188 LS patients, and 11 LAGB patients underwent upper gastrointestinal studies on postoperative days (POD) 1 or 2.
- Of the 319 total patients who underwent UGI, no contrast leaks were found.
- One LRYGB patient was found to have stenosis of the jejunojejunal anastomosis and was taken to the operating room for revision.
- A total of ten patients went on to develop leaks: four LRYGB patients, six LS patients, and zero LAGB patients.



