Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is under investigation for its potential role in postoperative complications. While some studies indicate no impact, they often cite short or incomplete follow-up. This study aims to compare 1-year outcomes in groups with and without active HP infection after bariatric surgery, also assessing HP prevalence in postoperative specimens of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients. Methods: Conducted between May 2020 and May 2021, this study involves both retrospective and prospective data collection from 93 eligible SG patients. Demographics, surgical outcomes and follow-up results (including complications; weight and BMI at 3, 6 and 12 months post-SG) were extracted. Results: No statistically significant differences in body weight were observed at 3 (p = 0.3757), 6 (p = 0.1422) or 12 (p = 0.2737) months post-surgery between the HP-positive (Group A) and non-infected (Group B) groups. Group A experienced significant reductions in body weight at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001), while group B showed significant reductions at 3, 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001), with additional decreases at 6 and 12 months post-surgery compared to 3 months. No significant differences in overall surgery-related side effects were observed between the groups. Conclusions: Patients with active HP infections undergoing SG displayed comparable rates of short- and long-term complications to the non-infected group. Active HP infection did not impact body weight loss outcomes at 12 months, but it may potentially slow it down in the initial three-month post-surgery period. This underscores the need to consider eradication while maintaining awareness of the potential side effects associated with the process.