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Nutrition133 papers

Esophageal dysmotility following bariatric surgery

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Esophageal dysmotility following bariatric surgery refers to impaired motility and function of the esophagus, often complicating post-surgical outcomes and potentially leading to symptoms such as dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition can arise due to anatomical changes and altered gastrointestinal physiology post-surgery. 2719

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Symptoms: Dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, and GERD symptoms.
  • Diagnostic Tests: Esophageal manometry, pH monitoring, upper endoscopy.
  • Laboratory Tests: Assess for micronutrient deficiencies (vitamin B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D) that may indirectly indicate dysmotility. 151215
  • Management

  • Supplementation: Lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation tailored to deficiencies identified (e.g., B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D). 151218
  • Dietary Modifications: Soft, easily swallowable diet; avoidance of trigger foods that exacerbate symptoms.
  • Medications: Prokinetic agents (e.g., metoclopramide) for symptomatic relief; proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for GERD management. 219
  • Regular Monitoring: Frequent follow-up with biochemical assessments to detect and manage deficiencies early. 424
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Close monitoring of micronutrient levels and supplementation tailored to pregnancy needs; increased risk of deficiencies requiring specialized multivitamins. 26
  • Comorbidities: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease or other gastrointestinal conditions may require individualized management plans to address specific deficiencies and motility issues. 29
  • Key Recommendations

  • Implement Lifelong Micronutrient Supplementation: Tailored to individual deficiencies identified through regular biochemical monitoring. (Evidence: Strong 1512)
  • Regular Follow-Up and Biochemical Assessments: To detect and manage deficiencies early post-bariatric surgery. (Evidence: Moderate 424)
  • Use Prokinetic Agents and PPIs as Needed: For symptomatic relief of dysphagia and GERD, respectively. (Evidence: Moderate 219)
  • Tailored Dietary Advice: Including soft diets and avoidance of symptom-triggering foods. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
  • References

    1 Chappard H, Sami O, Sakka I, Coelho S, Dupré T, Coupaye M et al.. Pragmatic strategy for vitamin and micronutrient supplementation after metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery 2026. link 2 Kumar SS, Wunker C, Collings A, Bansal V, Zoumpou T, Chang J et al.. SAGES guidelines for the management of comorbidities relevant to metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surgical endoscopy 2025. link 3 Chao GF, Nadzam G, Cheung M, Duffy A, Ghiassi S, Morton J. Collateral Benefit of Systematic Improvement in Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Following a Single Quality Improvement Project for Bleeding. Obesity surgery 2024. link 4 Petrucciani N, Carrano FM, Barone SC, Goglia M, Iadicicco E, Distefano G et al.. Primary, revisional, and endoscopic bariatric surgery: a narrative review of abdominal emergency management for general surgeons. Minerva surgery 2024. link 5 Jeram M, Coomarasamy C, MacCormick AD. Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Preoperative Bariatric Patients in a New Zealand Tertiary Centre. Obesity surgery 2024. link 6 Spetz K, Olbers T, Östbring M, Moon Z, Horne R, Andersson E. Using the 5-Item Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) to Screen for Non-adherence to Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation After Bariatric Surgery. Obesity surgery 2024. link 7 Nandipati KC, Bremer KC. Bariatric Surgery Emergencies in Acute Care Surgery. The Surgical clinics of North America 2023. link 8 Wong DH, Kim E, Rim DS, Sharma K, Tran T, Shin JH et al.. Evaluating the Compliance, Efficacy, and Cost of Formulated Vitamins Versus Separate Supplements in Post-bariatric Surgery Patients. Obesity surgery 2023. link 9 Fischer LE, Moreno-Garcia F, Tran R, Harmon A, Little C, Domingue G et al.. Prevalence and risk factors for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Surgical endoscopy 2023. link 10 Bahardoust M, Eghbali F, Shahmiri SS, Alijanpour A, Yarigholi F, Valizadeh R et al.. B1 Vitamin Deficiency After Bariatric Surgery, Prevalence, and Symptoms: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Obesity surgery 2022. link 11 Nunes R, Santos-Sousa H, Vieira S, Nogueiro J, Bouça-Machado R, Pereira A et al.. Vitamin B Complex Deficiency After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy-a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Obesity surgery 2022. link 12 Spetz K, Svedjeholm S, Roos S, Grehn S, Olbers T, Andersson E. Adherence to vitamin and mineral supplementation after bariatric surgery - A two-year cohort study. Obesity research & clinical practice 2022. link 13 Bossard V, Bourmeyster N, Pasini S, Dupuis P, El Balkhi S, Richard E et al.. Problematic rise of vitamin B6 supplementation overuse and potential risk to bariatric surgery patients. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) 2022. link 14 Spetz K, Hult M, Olbers T, Bonn S, Svedjeholm S, Lagerros YT et al.. A smartphone application to improve adherence to vitamin and mineral supplementation after bariatric surgery. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 2022. link 15 Jeram M, Mohamed F, Coomarasamy C, MacCormick AD. Are There Ethnic Differences in Micronutrient Deficiencies in Preoperative Bariatric Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Obesity surgery 2021. link 16 Smelt HJM, Heusschen L, Theel W, van Rutte PWJ, Nijboer T, Pouwels S et al.. Factors Affecting Patient Adherence to Multivitamin Intake After Bariatric Surgery: a Multicentre Survey Study from the Patient's Perspective. Obesity surgery 2021. link 17 Tynes M, Hepprich M, Timper K. Regular intake of energy drinks and multivitamin supplements is associated with elevated plasma vitamin B6 levels in post-bariatric patients. Scientific reports 2021. link 18 De Simone B, Ansaloni L, Sartelli M, Kluger Y, Abu-Zidan FM, Biffl WL et al.. The Operative management in Bariatric Acute abdomen (OBA) Survey: long-term complications of bariatric surgery and the emergency surgeon's point of view. World journal of emergency surgery : WJES 2020. link 19 Heusschen L, Schijns W, Ploeger N, Deden LN, Hazebroek EJ, Berends FJ et al.. The True Story on Deficiencies After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Results of a Double-Blind RCT. Obesity surgery 2020. link 20 Ogunniyi A. Emergency department management of patients with complications of bariatric surgery. Emergency medicine practice 2019. link 21 Jackson HT, Young MT, Rodriguez HA, Wright AS. SAGES Foregut Surgery Masters Program: a surgeon's social media resource for collaboration, education, and professional development. Surgical endoscopy 2018. link 22 Schijns W, Schuurman LT, Melse-Boonstra A, van Laarhoven CJHM, Berends FJ, Aarts EO. Do specialized bariatric multivitamins lower deficiencies after RYGB?. Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery 2018. link 23 Mouallem M, Margolin ML, Friedman YE, Blankenfeld H. Polyneuropathy, Myocardial Dysfunction and Pericardial Effusion Following Duodenal Switch. Acta medica (Hradec Kralove) 2018. link 24 Bazuin I, Pouwels S, Houterman S, Nienhuijs SW, Smulders JF, Boer AK. Improved and more effective algorithms to screen for nutrient deficiencies after bariatric surgery. European journal of clinical nutrition 2017. link 25 Sunil S, Santiago VA, Gougeon L, Warwick K, Okrainec A, Hawa R et al.. Predictors of Vitamin Adherence After Bariatric Surgery. Obesity surgery 2017. link 26 Devlieger R, Guelinckx I, Jans G, Voets W, Vanholsbeke C, Vansant G. Micronutrient levels and supplement intake in pregnancy after bariatric surgery: a prospective cohort study. PloS one 2014. link 27 McGrice MA, Porter JA. The micronutrient intake profile of a multicentre cohort of Australian LAGB patients. Obesity surgery 2014. link 28 Levinson R, Silverman JB, Catella JG, Rybak I, Jolin H, Isom K. Pharmacotherapy prevention and management of nutritional deficiencies post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obesity surgery 2013. link 29 Btaiche IF, Yeh AY, Wu IJ, Khalidi N. Neurologic dysfunction and pancytopenia secondary to acquired copper deficiency following duodenal switch: case report and review of the literature. Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2011. link 30 Malone M. Recommended nutritional supplements for bariatric surgery patients. The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2008. link

    Original source

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      Pragmatic strategy for vitamin and micronutrient supplementation after metabolic and bariatric surgery.Chappard H, Sami O, Sakka I, Coelho S, Dupré T, Coupaye M et al. Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (2026)
    2. [2]
      SAGES guidelines for the management of comorbidities relevant to metabolic and bariatric surgery.Kumar SS, Wunker C, Collings A, Bansal V, Zoumpou T, Chang J et al. Surgical endoscopy (2025)
    3. [3]
    4. [4]
      Primary, revisional, and endoscopic bariatric surgery: a narrative review of abdominal emergency management for general surgeons.Petrucciani N, Carrano FM, Barone SC, Goglia M, Iadicicco E, Distefano G et al. Minerva surgery (2024)
    5. [5]
    6. [6]
    7. [7]
      Bariatric Surgery Emergencies in Acute Care Surgery.Nandipati KC, Bremer KC The Surgical clinics of North America (2023)
    8. [8]
    9. [9]
      Prevalence and risk factors for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.Fischer LE, Moreno-Garcia F, Tran R, Harmon A, Little C, Domingue G et al. Surgical endoscopy (2023)
    10. [10]
      B1 Vitamin Deficiency After Bariatric Surgery, Prevalence, and Symptoms: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Bahardoust M, Eghbali F, Shahmiri SS, Alijanpour A, Yarigholi F, Valizadeh R et al. Obesity surgery (2022)
    11. [11]
      Vitamin B Complex Deficiency After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy-a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nunes R, Santos-Sousa H, Vieira S, Nogueiro J, Bouça-Machado R, Pereira A et al. Obesity surgery (2022)
    12. [12]
      Adherence to vitamin and mineral supplementation after bariatric surgery - A two-year cohort study.Spetz K, Svedjeholm S, Roos S, Grehn S, Olbers T, Andersson E Obesity research & clinical practice (2022)
    13. [13]
      Problematic rise of vitamin B6 supplementation overuse and potential risk to bariatric surgery patients.Bossard V, Bourmeyster N, Pasini S, Dupuis P, El Balkhi S, Richard E et al. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) (2022)
    14. [14]
      A smartphone application to improve adherence to vitamin and mineral supplementation after bariatric surgery.Spetz K, Hult M, Olbers T, Bonn S, Svedjeholm S, Lagerros YT et al. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (2022)
    15. [15]
    16. [16]
      Factors Affecting Patient Adherence to Multivitamin Intake After Bariatric Surgery: a Multicentre Survey Study from the Patient's Perspective.Smelt HJM, Heusschen L, Theel W, van Rutte PWJ, Nijboer T, Pouwels S et al. Obesity surgery (2021)
    17. [17]
    18. [18]
      The Operative management in Bariatric Acute abdomen (OBA) Survey: long-term complications of bariatric surgery and the emergency surgeon's point of view.De Simone B, Ansaloni L, Sartelli M, Kluger Y, Abu-Zidan FM, Biffl WL et al. World journal of emergency surgery : WJES (2020)
    19. [19]
      The True Story on Deficiencies After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Results of a Double-Blind RCT.Heusschen L, Schijns W, Ploeger N, Deden LN, Hazebroek EJ, Berends FJ et al. Obesity surgery (2020)
    20. [20]
    21. [21]
    22. [22]
      Do specialized bariatric multivitamins lower deficiencies after RYGB?Schijns W, Schuurman LT, Melse-Boonstra A, van Laarhoven CJHM, Berends FJ, Aarts EO Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (2018)
    23. [23]
      Polyneuropathy, Myocardial Dysfunction and Pericardial Effusion Following Duodenal Switch.Mouallem M, Margolin ML, Friedman YE, Blankenfeld H Acta medica (Hradec Kralove) (2018)
    24. [24]
      Improved and more effective algorithms to screen for nutrient deficiencies after bariatric surgery.Bazuin I, Pouwels S, Houterman S, Nienhuijs SW, Smulders JF, Boer AK European journal of clinical nutrition (2017)
    25. [25]
      Predictors of Vitamin Adherence After Bariatric Surgery.Sunil S, Santiago VA, Gougeon L, Warwick K, Okrainec A, Hawa R et al. Obesity surgery (2017)
    26. [26]
      Micronutrient levels and supplement intake in pregnancy after bariatric surgery: a prospective cohort study.Devlieger R, Guelinckx I, Jans G, Voets W, Vanholsbeke C, Vansant G PloS one (2014)
    27. [27]
    28. [28]
      Pharmacotherapy prevention and management of nutritional deficiencies post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.Levinson R, Silverman JB, Catella JG, Rybak I, Jolin H, Isom K Obesity surgery (2013)
    29. [29]
      Neurologic dysfunction and pancytopenia secondary to acquired copper deficiency following duodenal switch: case report and review of the literature.Btaiche IF, Yeh AY, Wu IJ, Khalidi N Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (2011)
    30. [30]
      Recommended nutritional supplements for bariatric surgery patients.Malone M The Annals of pharmacotherapy (2008)

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