Neither Low-calorie Diet nor Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Influence Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Morbidly Obese Patients

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the effect of a liquid diet, and of vertical banded gastroplasty, on gastro-oesophageal reflux in morbidly obese patients. DESIGN: Prospective study, patients being their own controls. SETTING: University hospital, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 25 morbidly obese patients, listed for vertical banded gastroplasty. INTERVENTIONS: 24 hour ambulatory intra-oesophageal pH-monitoring three weeks before operation and repeated after 10-14 days on a liquid very low calorie diet, and finally three weeks after operation, while still on a liquid very low calorie diet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of time that pH in the oesophagus was < or =4. RESULTS: There were no changes in the amount of reflux, either after a liquid diet or after vertical banded gastroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the liquid diet nor vertical banded gastroplasty alone had any appreciable effect on gastro-oesophageal reflux.