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IMPACT OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI ON EARLY POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS AFTER SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

IMPACTO DO HELICOBACTER PYLORI EM COMPLICAÇÕES PRECOCES APÓS A GASTRECTOMIA VERTICAL: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA E META-ANÁLISE

ABSTRACT

The impact of Helicobacter pylori (HP) on postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is still controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare the incidence of early complications after SG between HP-positive and HP-negative patients. Eight retrospective comparative studies were included, comprising 4,877 individuals. The prevalence of HP infection in gastric resected specimens ranged from 7.77 to 43.20%. There were no statistically significant differences between groups for overall complications (OR 1.46; 95%CI 0.95–2.23; p=0.08), bleeding (OR 1.35; 95%CI 0.70–2.60; p=0.38), and leak (OR 1.74; 95%CI 0.80–3.81; p=0.17) rates. The need for routine screening and treatment of HP infection before SG remains ambiguous.

HEADINGS
Bariatric Surgery; Helicobacter Pylori; Postoperative Complications

RESUMO

O impacto do Helicobacter pylori (HP) nos desfechos pós-operatórios da Gastrectomia Vertical (GV) ainda é controverso. Uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise foram realizadas para comparar a incidência de complicações pós-operatórias depois da GV entre pacientes HP-positivo e HP-negativo. Oito estudos comparativos retrospectivos foram incluídos, englobando 4.877 indivíduos. A prevalência de infecção por HPnos espécimes gástricos ressecados variou de 7,77 a 43,20%. Não houve diferença estatística significante entre os grupos para complicações gerais (OR 1,46; IC95% 0,95–2,23; p=0,08), sangramento (OR 1,35; IC95% 0,70–2,60; p=0,38), e fístula (OR 1,74; IC95% 0,80–3,81; p=0,17). A necessidade de rastreio e erradicação rotineira do HP antes da GV permanece ambígua.

DESCRITORES:
Cirurgia Bariátrica; Helicobacter Pylori; Complicações Pós-Operatórias

INTRODUCTION

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the most common worldwide, prevalent in almost half the global population1515. Hooi JKY, Lai WY, Ng WK, Suen MMY, Underwood FE, Tanyingoh D, et al. Global prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection: systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2017;153(2):420-9. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.04.022
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.04...
. Despite being asymptomatic in over 80% of cases44. Brown LM. Helicobacter pylori: epidemiology and routes of transmission. Epidemiol Rev. 2000;22(2):283-97. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a018040
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.e...
, it is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma1515. Hooi JKY, Lai WY, Ng WK, Suen MMY, Underwood FE, Tanyingoh D, et al. Global prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection: systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2017;153(2):420-9. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.04.022
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.04...
,2121. Plummer M, Franceschi S, Vignat J, Forman D, Martel C. Global burden of gastric cancer attributable to Helicobacter pylori. Int J Cancer. 2015;136(2):487-90. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.28999
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.28999...
.

Evidence shows that HP infection is more prevalent in patients with obesity than in the general population33. Arslan E, Atilgan H, Yavaşoğlu I. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in obese subjects. Eur J Intern Med. 2009;20(7):695-7.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2009.07.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2009.07.0...
,1010. Erim T, Cruz-Correa MR, Szomstein S, Velis E, Rosenthal R. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity among patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a preliminary study. World J Surg. 2008;32(9):2021-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-008-9608-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-008-9608-...
. This leads to the adoption of preoperative routine HP screening and eradication in some metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) centers1212. Gómez García de Las Heras S, Galindo Fernández C, Ruiz Tovar J, Fernández-Aceñero MJ. Preoperative management of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: Role of endoscopy and Helicobacter eradication. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2021;15(3):289-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2021.05.002
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2021.05.0...
,2727. Shahraki MS, Pouramini A, Heydari Y, Shahmiri SS. Does bariatric surgery change the recurrence of helicobacter pylori infection?. Obes Surg. 2021;31(9):4210-2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05507-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05507...
, albeit strong evidence of routine HP eradication in this setting is limited.

The impact of HP on perioperative outcomes of MBS is still controversial. In a nationwide analysis with 253,765 patients, HP was the strongest independent predictor of marginal ulceration2525. Schulman AR, Abougergi MS, Thompson CC. H. Pylori as a predictor of marginal ulceration: a nationwide analysis. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25(3):522-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21759
https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21759...
. In contrast, other studies found no association between HP infection and surgical complications1616. Kelly JJ, Perugini RA, Wang QL, Czerniach DR, Flahive J, Cohen PA. The presence of Helicobacter pylori is not associated with long-term anastomotic complications in gastric bypass patients. Surg Endosc. 2015;29(10):2885-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-4022-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-4022-...
,1919. Mocanu V, Dang JT, Switzer N, Skubleny D, Shi X, Gara C, et al. The effect of Helicobacter pylori on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Surg. 2018;28(2):567-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-3024-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-3024-...
. While these data focus on anastomotic complications related to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), the influence of HP infection on sleeve gastrectomy (SG), the most performed bariatric procedure nowadays, is still limited to small retrospective studies1919. Mocanu V, Dang JT, Switzer N, Skubleny D, Shi X, Gara C, et al. The effect of Helicobacter pylori on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Surg. 2018;28(2):567-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-3024-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-3024-...
,3131. Valezi AC, Campos ACL, Von Bahten LC. Brazilian multi-society position statement on emerging bariatric and metabolic surgical procedures. Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2023;36:e1759. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-672020230041e1759
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-67202023004...
.

The present study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the impact of HP on early postoperative complications after SG.

METHODS

Literature search

A systematic search was performed in Embase and PubMed databases, and grey literature, from inception to January 28, 2023, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement2020. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. PLoS Med. 2021;18(3):e1003583. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003583
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.100...
. The search strategy for PubMed was (sleeve gastrectomy) AND (complication) AND ((helicobacter pylori) OR (h pylori)). A similar search strategy was used for other databases. The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) - University of York with Registry Number CRD42022385224.

Study selection

Two reviewers (ACBD and VRJ) independently screened all potentially relevant titles and abstracts for eligibility. Abstracts were screened based on the following inclusion criteria: patients undergoing SG, with documented HP infection on resected pathologic specimen, and reporting on perioperative outcomes. Discrepancies were solved by consensus or through assessment by a third independent reviewer (KFXCF). Studies with preoperative eradication of HP or without comparative groups between positive and negative HP were excluded, in addition to editorials, letters, conference proceedings, reviews, case reports, and animal models. No restrictions were set for language.

Data extraction

Study details, patient characteristics, and outcome data were independently extracted by two reviewers (ACBD and KFXCF). Our primary outcome was overall early postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes were bleeding and leak.

The following data were obtained from the included studies: first author, journal, year of publication, study design, number of patients in each group, age, gender, and preoperative body mass index (BMI).

Quality assessment

This meta-analysis was conducted according to the consensus statement for meta-analysis of observational studies (MOOSE)3030. Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, Olkin I, Williamson GD, Rennie D, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) group. JAMA. 2000;283(15):2008-12. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.15.2008
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.15.2008...
. Two reviewers (VRJ and KFXCF) independently assessed the quality of studies using the modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) quality assessment tool for observational studies3232. Xu X, Yin Y, Wang H, Wang F. Prevalence of needle-stick injury among nursing students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2022;10:937887. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.937887
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.93788...
. Possible conflicts were discussed with a third reviewer (ACBD).

Statistical analysis

Outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included overall complications, leak, and bleeding rates. The estimated effects were calculated using ReviewManager (RevMan) 5 software from the Cochrane website2222. Rhodes K, Braakhuis A. Performance and side effects of supplementation with n-acetylcysteine: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2017;47(8):1619-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0677-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0677-...
. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated with the respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI). The statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the I-squared (I22. Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Alshammari D, Alqinai S, Al-Mulla A, Al-Murad A, et al. The impact of Helicobacter pylori on the complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2014;24(3):412-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-...
) statistic. A random effects model (restricted maximum likelihood) was applied due to the significant clinical heterogeneity among the included studies. Statistical significance was set at p=0.05.

RESULTS

Study selection

Through a preliminary database search, 143 studies were obtained. After removing duplicates, 103 titles and abstracts were screened, leaving 13 studies for full-text evaluation. As shown in the flowchart (Figure 1), only eight manuscripts fulfilled the eligibility criteria of this meta-analysis, all retrospective comparative analyses.

Figure 1
Flow diagram of study selection.

Study characteristics

A total of eight studies were included, comprising 4,877 individuals11. Abu-Abeid A, Abu-Abeid S, Nizri E, Kuriansky J, Lahat G, Dayan D. The association of helicobacter pylori, eradication, and early complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2022;32(5):1617-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996...
,22. Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Alshammari D, Alqinai S, Al-Mulla A, Al-Murad A, et al. The impact of Helicobacter pylori on the complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2014;24(3):412-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-...
,66. Brownlee AR, Bromberg E, Roslin MS. Outcomes in patients with helicobacter pylori undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2015;25(12):2276-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1687-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1687-...
,88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
,1313. Gonzalez-Heredia R, Tirado V, Patel N, Masrur M, Murphey M, Elli E. Is Helicobacter pylori associated with an increased complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? Bariatr Surg Pract Patient Care. 2015;10(1):15-8. https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045
https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045...
,2323. Rossetti G, Moccia F, Marra T, Buonomo M, Pascotto B, Pezzullo A, et al. Does Helicobacter pylori infection have influence on outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity? Int J Surg. 2014;12 Suppl 1:S68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.051
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.0...
,2626. Serin KR, Akyüz Ü, Batman B, Uymaz DS, Altun H. Does Helicobacter pylori infection influence the major postoperative complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? A retrospective cohort study in an endemic region. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2018;29(4):379-83. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373
https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373...
,2828. Shanti H, Almajali N, Al-Shamaileh T, Samarah W, Mismar A, Obeidat F. Helicobacter pylori does not affect postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2017;27(5):1298-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-...
. The main characteristics and quality assessment of all included studies are shown in Table 1. Preoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) and HP testing were heterogeneous among studies: Emile et al.88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
and Abu-Abeid et al.11. Abu-Abeid A, Abu-Abeid S, Nizri E, Kuriansky J, Lahat G, Dayan D. The association of helicobacter pylori, eradication, and early complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2022;32(5):1617-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996...
did it routinely, Almazeedi et al.22. Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Alshammari D, Alqinai S, Al-Mulla A, Al-Murad A, et al. The impact of Helicobacter pylori on the complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2014;24(3):412-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-...
at the surgeon’s discretion, and all the others66. Brownlee AR, Bromberg E, Roslin MS. Outcomes in patients with helicobacter pylori undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2015;25(12):2276-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1687-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1687-...
,1313. Gonzalez-Heredia R, Tirado V, Patel N, Masrur M, Murphey M, Elli E. Is Helicobacter pylori associated with an increased complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? Bariatr Surg Pract Patient Care. 2015;10(1):15-8. https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045
https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045...
,2323. Rossetti G, Moccia F, Marra T, Buonomo M, Pascotto B, Pezzullo A, et al. Does Helicobacter pylori infection have influence on outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity? Int J Surg. 2014;12 Suppl 1:S68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.051
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.0...
,2626. Serin KR, Akyüz Ü, Batman B, Uymaz DS, Altun H. Does Helicobacter pylori infection influence the major postoperative complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? A retrospective cohort study in an endemic region. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2018;29(4):379-83. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373
https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373...
,2828. Shanti H, Almajali N, Al-Shamaileh T, Samarah W, Mismar A, Obeidat F. Helicobacter pylori does not affect postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2017;27(5):1298-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-...
did no HP screening before surgery. If HP was positive on gastric pathology specimens, only half of the studies treated it with outpatient oral antibiotics22. Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Alshammari D, Alqinai S, Al-Mulla A, Al-Murad A, et al. The impact of Helicobacter pylori on the complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2014;24(3):412-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-...
,88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
,1313. Gonzalez-Heredia R, Tirado V, Patel N, Masrur M, Murphey M, Elli E. Is Helicobacter pylori associated with an increased complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? Bariatr Surg Pract Patient Care. 2015;10(1):15-8. https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045
https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045...
,2828. Shanti H, Almajali N, Al-Shamaileh T, Samarah W, Mismar A, Obeidat F. Helicobacter pylori does not affect postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2017;27(5):1298-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-...
. Most of the studies considered early complications 30 days after the procedure11. Abu-Abeid A, Abu-Abeid S, Nizri E, Kuriansky J, Lahat G, Dayan D. The association of helicobacter pylori, eradication, and early complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2022;32(5):1617-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996...
,66. Brownlee AR, Bromberg E, Roslin MS. Outcomes in patients with helicobacter pylori undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2015;25(12):2276-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1687-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1687-...
,1313. Gonzalez-Heredia R, Tirado V, Patel N, Masrur M, Murphey M, Elli E. Is Helicobacter pylori associated with an increased complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? Bariatr Surg Pract Patient Care. 2015;10(1):15-8. https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045
https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0045...
,2323. Rossetti G, Moccia F, Marra T, Buonomo M, Pascotto B, Pezzullo A, et al. Does Helicobacter pylori infection have influence on outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity? Int J Surg. 2014;12 Suppl 1:S68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.051
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.0...
,2626. Serin KR, Akyüz Ü, Batman B, Uymaz DS, Altun H. Does Helicobacter pylori infection influence the major postoperative complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? A retrospective cohort study in an endemic region. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2018;29(4):379-83. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373
https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373...
,2828. Shanti H, Almajali N, Al-Shamaileh T, Samarah W, Mismar A, Obeidat F. Helicobacter pylori does not affect postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2017;27(5):1298-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-...
, except two that had no mention of follow-up period for perioperative morbidity22. Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Alshammari D, Alqinai S, Al-Mulla A, Al-Murad A, et al. The impact of Helicobacter pylori on the complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2014;24(3):412-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-...
,88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
.

Table 1
Baseline characteristics of included studies.

Outcomes

The prevalence of HP infection ranged from 7.77 to 43.20%. In those with HP positive, the mean age was 36.9 years old, the mean BMI was 46.7 kg/m2, and 75.38% were female. The following complication rates were observed in this group throughout the studies: overall complications 0.00–10.06%, bleeding 0.00–3.91%, and leak 0.00–2.90%. Of those HP-negative patients, the mean age was 37.7 years old, the mean BMI was 46.2 kg/m22. Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Alshammari D, Alqinai S, Al-Mulla A, Al-Murad A, et al. The impact of Helicobacter pylori on the complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2014;24(3):412-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1108-...
, and 72.91% were female. Complication rates among the studies were: overall complications 0.30–8.53 %, bleeding 0.00–2.71 %, and leak 0.00–2.68%.

Meta-analysis

All studies reported overall complications, bleeding, and leak rates, with sufficient data for a meta-analysis. Overall complications had no significant difference between HP positive and negative groups (OR 1.46; 95%CI 0.95–2.23; p=0.08), as seen in Figure 2. Accordingly, there was no statistically significant difference between groups for bleeding (OR 1.35; 95%CI 0.70–2.60; p=0.38) and leak (OR 1.74; 95%CI 0.80–3.81; p=0.17) rates (Figures 3 and 4). Heterogeneity was not significant for all outcomes (p>0.05).

Figure 2
Overall complication rates for HP-positive vs. HP-negative groups.
Figure 3
Bleeding rates for HP-positive vs. HP-negative groups.
Figure 4
Leak rates for HP-positive vs. HP-negative groups.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis summarized and compared early postoperative complications after SG according to HP infection status on gastric pathology specimens. There were no statistically significant differences between groups for overall complications, bleeding, and leak.

Some studies showed high rates (>30%) of HP infection, but there was no correlation with preoperative screening88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
,2323. Rossetti G, Moccia F, Marra T, Buonomo M, Pascotto B, Pezzullo A, et al. Does Helicobacter pylori infection have influence on outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity? Int J Surg. 2014;12 Suppl 1:S68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.051
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.05.0...
,2626. Serin KR, Akyüz Ü, Batman B, Uymaz DS, Altun H. Does Helicobacter pylori infection influence the major postoperative complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? A retrospective cohort study in an endemic region. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2018;29(4):379-83. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373
https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2018.17373...
,2828. Shanti H, Almajali N, Al-Shamaileh T, Samarah W, Mismar A, Obeidat F. Helicobacter pylori does not affect postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2017;27(5):1298-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-...
. Abu-Abeid et al.11. Abu-Abeid A, Abu-Abeid S, Nizri E, Kuriansky J, Lahat G, Dayan D. The association of helicobacter pylori, eradication, and early complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2022;32(5):1617-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05996...
were the only ones to do routine preoperative screening and treatment for HP; with all HP negative on preoperative urea breath test, still, one-third (34.55%) were positive on resected specimens. HP eradication, however, had no impact on overall and major complications.

Although two studies showed higher complication rates for patients who were positive for HP88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
,2828. Shanti H, Almajali N, Al-Shamaileh T, Samarah W, Mismar A, Obeidat F. Helicobacter pylori does not affect postoperative outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2017;27(5):1298-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2470-...
, none of the studies included in this meta-analysis demonstrated a significant impact of HP infection on postoperative complications after SG. The study by Emile et al.88. Emile SH, Elshobaky A, Elbanna HG, Elkashef W, Abdel-Razik MA. Helicobacter pylori, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; Is there a relation? Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3037-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04648...
was the only to observe a higher incidence of overall and specific complications in the HP-positive group, but also not statistically significant. Ergin et al.99. Ergin A, Çiyiltepe H, Karip AB, Fersahoğlu MM, Bulut NE, Çakmak A, et al. The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric wall thickness in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2021;31(9):4024-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05513-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05513...
evaluated the impact of preoperative HP eradication on gastric wall thickness and found that antrum mucosal thickness was significantly higher in the HP-positive group without eradication treatment, but this did not affect early postoperative complications.

A previous meta-analysis evaluated the impact of HP on postoperative outcomes after bariatric surgery1919. Mocanu V, Dang JT, Switzer N, Skubleny D, Shi X, Gara C, et al. The effect of Helicobacter pylori on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Surg. 2018;28(2):567-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-3024-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-3024-...
. While it included a range of MBS procedures, such as SG, RYGB, and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), it was also heterogeneous in diagnostic criteria for HP infection and follow-up time, including early and long-term morbidity. In addition, HP was only associated with increased marginal ulceration rates, but this finding could not be meta-analyzed as it was based on a lone populational study with more than 250,000 individuals2525. Schulman AR, Abougergi MS, Thompson CC. H. Pylori as a predictor of marginal ulceration: a nationwide analysis. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25(3):522-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21759
https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21759...
.

Beyond the risk of perioperative complications, the impact of HP on other outcomes has been increasingly explored in the literature. There is growing evidence for a potential association between HP infection and metabolic syndrome1717. Kountouras J, Polyzos SA, Doulberis M, Zeglinas C, Artemaki F, Vardaka E, et al. Potential impact of Helicobacter pylori-related metabolic syndrome on upper and lower gastrointestinal tract oncogenesis. Metabolism. 2018;87:18-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.06.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.0...
. Goday et al.1111. Goday A, Castañer O, Benaiges D, Pou AB, Ramón JM, Iglesias MDM, et al. Can Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment modify the metabolic response to bariatric surgery?. Obes Surg. 2018;28(8):2386-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3170-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3170-...
evaluated if HP eradication treatment could influence the evolution of weight loss and metabolic markers after bariatric surgery and found that HP-treated patients had higher weight loss and higher reduction of triglycerides and glucose levels. Moreover, the impact of HP has been evaluated on the incidence of gallstone formation after SG and found anti-HP antibody seropositive to be associated with cholelithiasis1414. Hashimoto K, Nagao Y, Nambara S, Tsuda Y, Kudou K, Kusumoto E, Sakaguchi Y, et al. Association between anti-helicobacter pylori antibody seropositive and de novo gallstone formation after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for japanese patients with severe obesity. Obes Surg. 2022;32(10):3404-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-06253-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-06253...
,2929. Silva MBB, Tustumi F, Dantas ACB, Miranda BCJ, Pajecki D, DE-Cleva R, et al. Obesity and severe steatosis: the importance of biochemical exams and scores. Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2022;34(4):e1626. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-672020210002e1626
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-67202021000...
. Its relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has also been explored, but despite no association with the incidence of de novo GERD, improvement of symptoms was higher in those with HP-confirmed eradication than in those without HP infection.

There is still no consensus on the role of routine preoperative screening and eradication of HP before bariatric surgery1212. Gómez García de Las Heras S, Galindo Fernández C, Ruiz Tovar J, Fernández-Aceñero MJ. Preoperative management of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: Role of endoscopy and Helicobacter eradication. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2021;15(3):289-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2021.05.002
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2021.05.0...
. The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) position statement recommends routine UGE on candidates for MBS55. Brown WA, Shah YJH, Balalis G, Bashir A, Ramos A, Kow L, et al. IFSO position statement on the role of esophago-gastro-duodenal endoscopy prior to and after bariatric and metabolic surgery procedures. Obes Surg. 2020;30(8):3135-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04720-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04720...
, and HP infection is one of the most common abnormal findings on preoperative UGE2424. Sawathanon S, Promchan D, Thongwong M, Wangkulangkul P, Cheewatanakornkul S, Keeratichananont S, et al. Impact of preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and development of a model to predict clinically significant abnormal endoscopic findings. Surg Endosc. 2023;37(3):2202-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-022-09391-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-022-09391...
. Based on the recent update of the Maastricht VI/Florence consensus report recommending that all patients with evidence of active infection with HP should be offered treatment1818. Malfertheiner P, Megraud F, Rokkas T, Gisbert JP, Liou JM, Schulz C, et al. Management of Helicobacter pylori infection: the Maastricht VI/Florence consensus report. Gut. 2022:gutjnl-2022-327745. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327745
https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2022-3277...
, and considering a recent international survey showing that two-thirds of experts (69%) already do it before MBS77. Chiappetta S, Stier C, Ghanem OM, Dayyeh BKA, Boškoski I, Prager G, et al. Perioperative interventions to prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease and marginal ulcers after bariatric surgery – an International Experts’ Survey. Obes Surg. 2023;33(5):1449-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06481-x
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06481...
, it may be time for us to routinely screen and eradicate HP in this population, despite no impact on early postoperative complications as found in this meta-analysis.

This systematic review is not without its limitations. Only eight retrospective studies met our inclusion criteria and were limited by the small sample size and its retrospective nature. In addition, all studies already had the same finding that HP infection was not significant for early perioperative complications after SG, thus bringing no new conclusions from this meta-analysis. Despite these limitations, this review is novel in its updated analysis of the literature focused solely on SG.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of Helicobacter pylori on the resected gastric specimen after sleeve gastrectomy was not found to be adversely associated with early overall postoperative complications, bleeding, or leak. There is, however, no recommendation against routine screening and treatment of HP infection before metabolic and bariatric surgery, as other outcomes may be involved.

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  • Financial Source: None

Central Message

  • Evidence shows that Helicobacter pylori infection is more prevalent in patients with obesity than in the general population, leading to the adoption of preoperative routine screening and eradication in some metabolic and bariatric surgery centers. While the data focus on anastomotic complications related to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on sleeve gastrectomy, the most performed bariatric procedure nowadays, is still limited to small retrospective studies.

Perspectives

  • The presence of Helicobacter pylori on the resected gastric specimen after sleeve gastrectomy was not found to be adversely associated with early overall postoperative complications, bleeding, or leak. There is, however, no recommendation against routine screening and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection before metabolic and bariatric surgery, as other outcomes may be involved.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    02 Feb 2024
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    22 Aug 2023
  • Accepted
    10 Oct 2023
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E-mail: revistaabcd@gmail.com