To determine the prevalence of SIBO in oesophagogastric cancer resected patients and investigate its impact on gastrointestinal symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), particularly focusing on specific symptomatology.
Key Findings:
73.5% of patients tested positive for SIBO, indicating a significant clinical concern.
No significant differences in digestive symptom scores between SIBO positive and negative patients, suggesting overlapping symptoms.
A non-significant trend towards greater appetite loss in SIBO positive patients, highlighting the need for careful assessment.
Interpretation:
The high prevalence of SIBO suggests it is a significant clinical concern post-OG cancer surgery, with symptoms being non-specific and overlapping with other digestive disorders, necessitating further research and improved guidelines.
Limitations:
Potential underdiagnosis of SIBO due to the low sensitivity of breath tests, which may affect the reliability of findings.
False positives may arise from colonic fermentation and rapid intestinal transit, complicating the interpretation of results.
Conclusion:
SIBO presents non-specific clinical symptoms, complicating diagnosis, and highlights the urgent need for better guidelines for assessment and treatment post-OGC resection to improve patient outcomes.
