The Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection

Objectives: Helicobacter pylori is a very common pathogen that can causes many benign or malign diseases. The majority of individuals colonized by H. pylori are asymptomatic although they have gastritis. H. pylori is also commonly detected in obese patients. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most preferred surgical option in treatment of obesity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of LSG on H. pylori infection in obese patients. Materials and Methods: Totally 36 patients were included who were asymptomatic and had diagnosed with H. pylori infection positive by using Carbon-14 urea breathing test (UBT) before undergoing LSG. All of the patients were evaluated again by using same test in the postoperative third month. To prevent false negative results, and because the patients are asymptomatic, no antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors were given both in preoperative and postoperative period. Results: Twenty nine patients (80%) were female where 7 (20%) were male. Mean age was 36 and mean preoperative body mass index was Postoperative UBT was negative in 20 of 36 patients (55%). Four of these were male and 16 of these were female. Where 7 (20%) were male. All of the patients maintained asymptomatic postoperatively in terms of H. pylori infection. Abstract