Manifestations of orofacial dysphagia after bariatric surgery: a systematic review

Resumo

Obesity is a chronic condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat, which can impact health. After bariatric surgery, it is essential to monitor and address any potential changes in dysphagia and swallowing in patients through pre- and post-operative speech therapy follow-up. Objective: This systematic review aims to assess whether there is an association between undergoing bariatric surgery and the development of dysphagia in the postoperative period. Material and methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Lilacs, Embase, Livivo, and Scopus databases, as well as in gray literature through ProQuest, Google Scholar, consultations with specialists in the field, and citation searching. Results: After searching the databases, 2785 references were retrieved, and 12 articles were selected for synthesis. The incidence of dysphagia and deterioration of postoperative swallowing were analyzed. Conclusion: The collected data suggest that the incidence of dysphagia and the deterioration of swallowing function are not significantly elevated in patients who undergo bariatric surgery. These findings indicate that, in general terms, bariatric surgery does not imply an increased risk of complications related to swallowing.