Hyperirritable stomach as a cause of obstructive symptoms after sleeve gastrectomy: clinical and radiographic findings

Abstract Purpose To characterize clinical and radiographic features of a hyperirritable stomach after sleeve gastrectomy. Materials/methods Radiology reports revealed that 10/76 patients (13%) with obstructive symptoms after sleeve gastrectomy had a hyperirritable stomach. Results All 10 patients presented with nausea, vomiting, and/or regurgitation. All 10 had emesis on barium studies in the absence of gastric outlet obstruction, gastroparesis, or small bowel obstruction/ileus. Five had extraintestinal causes of nausea/vomiting. Eight had improvement/resolution of symptoms on medical treatment. Conclusion In 13% of patients with nausea/vomiting after sleeve gastrectomy, barium studies revealed a hyperirritable stomach, which likely is multifactorial and self-limited in most patients.