Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia after Bariatric Surgery: Diagnosis and Management Experience from a Spanish Multicenter Registry

• Main Authors: Nuria Vilarrasa, Albert Goday, Miguel Angel Rubio, Assumpta Caixàs, Silvia Pellitero, Andrea Ciudin, Alfonso Calañas, José Ignacio Botella, Irene Bretón, María José Morales, María Jesús Díaz-Fernández, Pedro Pablo García-Luna, Albert Lecube
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Karger Publishers 2016-02-01
• Series: Obesity Facts
• Subjects: Bariatric surgery; Nesiodioblastosis; Neuroglycopenic hypoglycemia; Revisional surgery; Postprandial hypoglycemia
• Online Access: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/442764
• ISSN: 1662-4025; 1662-4033

Background: Severe postprandial hypoglycemia after bariatric surgery is a rare but invalidating complication. Our aim was to describe the different tests performed for its diagnosis and their outcomes as well as the response to the prescribed pharmacological and surgical treatments. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective systematic review of cases with recurrent severe postprandial hypoglycemia. Results: Over 11 years of follow-up, 22 patients were identified. The test most used to provoke hypoglycemia was the oral glucose load test followed by the mixed meal test which was the least standardized test. With pharmacological treatment, 3 patients were symptom-free (with octreotide) and in 12 patients hypoglycemic episodes were attenuated. Seven patients had persistent hypoglycemic episodes and underwent surgery. Partial pancreatectomy was performed in 3 patients who had positive selective arterial calcium stimulation, and nesidioblastosis was confirmed in 2 patients. Reconversion to normal anatomy was performed in 3 patients, and 1 patient underwent a resection of the ‘candy cane' roux limb, with resolution of hypoglycemia in all cases. Conclusions: There is high heterogeneity in the evaluation and treatment options for postoperative hypoglycemia. In patients that do not respond to pharmacological treatment, reconstruction of gastrojejunal continuity may be the safest and most successful procedure.