Incidence of Benign Anal Disease After Bariatric Surgery in King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraydah.

backgroundAs the number of bariatric procedures rises, there is a growing need to understand the surgery's impact on other health conditions, including gastrointestinal complications. The incidence of benign anal diseases, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and abscesses, has emerged as a concern among post-bariatric surgery patients. Currently, limited research exists on the incidence and risk factors associated with benign anal disease. This gap highlights the need for further research into the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on gastrointestinal health.

objectiveThis study aimed to determine the incidence of benign anal diseases such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and anal fistulae among the patients who underwent bariatric surgery at King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Buraydah.

methodThis was a cross-sectional study conducted from 01/01/2021 to 31/10/2023. Data collection involved reviewing hospital records at KFSH to identify patients who had undergone bariatric surgery. After identification, these patients were contacted by phone to participate in the study. The collected data were entered into an Excel database (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) and then imported into SPSS software v. 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) for statistical analysis.  Results: Among the 268 patients who underwent bariatric surgery, 255 (95.1%) had sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and 13 (4.9%) had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). A total of 178 patients (66.4%) reported normal bowel habits, 83 patients (31.0%) experienced constipation, and 7 patients (2.6%) reported diarrhea. Additionally, 16 (6.0%) patients developed abscesses or fistulae, and 17 (6.3%) indicated that they had noticed blood during bowel movements. Dietary assessments revealed that 123 participants (45.9%) consumed a medium-fiber diet, while 122 (45.5%) had a low-fiber diet. Changes in bowel habits were noted by 90 participants (33.6%). Furthermore, 22 patients (8.2%) reported noticing swelling around the anus during defecation.

conclusionAfter bariatric surgery, the incidence of anal disease was very low during the follow-up period. It is important to monitor bowel habits and address comorbid conditions in patients undergoing bariatric surgery to improve postoperative outcomes and quality of life. However, this study suggests that future studies consider other factors and involve a larger sample to be able to generalize the findings in a broader context.