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Shaker et al. Mini-invasive Surg. 2025;9:27 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2024.105

Review Open Access

Gastroesophageal reflux disease related to

laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Anisa Shaker , Edy Soffer
Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders Center, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck
School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Anisa Shaker, Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders Center, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver
Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Hoffman Medical
Research Building, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. E-mail: ashaker@usc.edu
How to cite this article: Shaker A, Soffer E. Gastroesophageal reflux disease related to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Mini-
invasive Surg. 2025;9:27. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2024.105
Received: 3 Dec 2024 First Decision: 8 Apr 2025 Revised: 8 Jul 2025 Accepted: 9 Jul 2025 Published: 27 Aug 2025

Academic Editor: Giulio Belli Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
Obesity remains a global public health burden. The most common surgical approach for this condition worldwide is
laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Although it is highly effective at achieving both short- and long-term
weight loss, comparable to outcomes demonstrated by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, there are growing concerns
about the development or worsening of another prevalent and morbid condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), following sleeve gastrectomy (SG). In this narrative review, we summarize current concerns related to
GERD in the context of SG. We review the pathophysiologic mechanisms that predispose the SG anatomy to GERD,
focus on the prevalence of de novo and worsening GERD and its associated complications, Barrett’s esophagus,
review expert recommendations for GERD evaluation pre- and post-surgery, and discuss therapeutic options for
those with severe GERD following SG.
Keywords: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, obesity, laparoscopic, sleeve
gastrectomy

INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a global public health burden with growing prevalence and is a risk factor for a number of
obesity-related health disorders, including malignancy, underscoring the urgent and ongoing need for

© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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