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. 2010 Apr 21;16(15):1867-70.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i15.1867.

Incidence and risk factors for the development of anemia following gastric bypass surgery

Dimitrios V Avgerinos  1 , Omar H Llaguna, Matthew Seigerman, Amanda J Lefkowitz, I Michael Leitman
Affiliations

Incidence and risk factors for the development of anemia following gastric bypass surgery

Dimitrios V Avgerinos et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for the development of anemia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing RYGB from January 2003 to November 2007 was performed. All patients had a preoperative body mass index > 40 kg/m(2). A total of 206 patients were evaluated. All patients were given daily supplements of ferrous sulfate tablets for 2 wk following their operation. Hematological and metabolic indices were routinely evaluated following surgery. Patients were followed for a minimum of 86 wk.

Results: There were 41 males and 165 females with an average age of 40.8 years. 21 patients (10.2%) developed post-operative anemia and 185 patients (89.8%) did not. Anemia was due to iron deficiency in all cases. The groups had similar demographics, surgical procedure and co-morbidities. Menstruation (P = 0.02) and peptic ulcer disease (P = 0.01) were risk factors for the development of post-operative anemia.

Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia is frequent. RYGB surgery compounds occult blood loss. Increased ferrous sulfate supplementation may prevent iron depletion in populations at increased risk.

Keywords: Anemia; Complication; Gastric bypass surgery; Obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of patients who developed post-operative anemia.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum hemoglobin (Hg) (A) levels (g/dL) and iron (Fe) (B) levels (μg/dL) pre- and post-operatively.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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