Clinic-based Nasopharyngoesophagogastroscopy Following Bariatric Surgery

Sensitivity, Specificity, and Positive and Negative Predictive Values of Clinic-based Nasopharyngoesophagogastroscopy Following Bariatric Surgery

This study aims to determine that this new technology, nasopharyngoendoscopy, is just as effective in diagnosing problems as the current gold standard.

Obesity is a public health problem. Currently, the best treatment is surgery. However, 15% of patients after surgery have problems such as nausea, pain, vomiting, heartburn or regurgitation. To investigate these problems, an endoscopy is used. Yet, endoscopy has some disadvantages such as the need for intravenous sedation, need to take time off work, need for special endoscopy units and nurses and a delay in diagnosing because the endoscopy cannot be done at the time of the clinic visit. A new technology called clinic-based nasopharyngoendoscopy can potentially solve many of the problems with the current endoscopy. This study aims to determine that this new technology is just as effective in diagnosing problems as the current gold standard.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Post-operative gastric bypass patients at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
• No previous nasal or pharyngeal surgery
• Foregut dyspeptic symptoms including: nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, epigastric pain, reflux and/or hematemesis
• Require endoscopy for investigation of foregut symptoms
• Able to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have not undergone gastric bypass surgery
• Inability to give consent