Bile Reflux or Duodenogastroesophageal Reflux (DGER) can be difficult to differentiate from acid reflux. Bile reflux happens when bile and contents from the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, backs up into the stomach and possibly the esophagus causing gastritis or esophagitis. It is important to note that Acid Reflux and Bile Reflux are two different conditions.  You can not distinguish between Acid Reflux and Bile Reflux by symptoms alone. It is also possible to have a combination of Acid and Bile reflux. Bile reflux into the stomach may occur  in some patients with no symptoms. The problem arises when patient who are diagnosed solely on the symptoms of “reflux” are inadequately worked up and are placed on PPI, proton pump inhibitor medication  or similar, unsuccessfully.

What is bile?

Bile is a digestive fluid continually produced by the liver up to a liter a day. Bile is made of water, cholesterol, bicarbonate, bile acids and salts, electrolytes and copper. Bile travels through the hepatic duct and is stored in the gallbladder, if a person has a gallbladder. When the gallbladder is removed, the bile produced by the liver, continuously travels to the small bowel.

What does bile do?

Bile has a specific function in fat digestion.  Bile acts as an emulsifying agent to breakdown fatty acids into small particles, micelles, so they can be absorbed. Bile is important in dietary fat and fat soluble vitamin absorption. Bile is also the means for the body to dispose of the byproduct of blood breakdown, bilirubin. Bile is also important in cholesterol regulation and removes some excess cholesterol into the stool.

Anatomy of Bile Pathway

Approximately 20-30 minutes after eating the gallbladder will secrete bile into the first part of the small intestines called the Duodenum through the Common Bile Duct. The Common Bile Duct will release bicarbonate and water into bile. Once in the Duodenum, the bile will mix with the food product entering from the stomach.

Symptoms of Bile Reflux:

• Heartburn
• Chest Pain
• Food Regurgitation
• Upper Abdominal Pain
• Nausea
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Vomiting
• Coughing
• Hoarseness

Possible Causes of Bile Reflux:

• Gastric Bypass RNY or SADI/SIPS/Loop
• Peptic Ulcer
• Gastric Motility dysfunction (Diabetic gastroparesis)
• Pyloric Valve Dysfunction
• Gallbladder Surgery (Cholecystectomy)
• Biliary tree bypass surgery (Choledochoduodenostomy)
• Medication

What is Bile Reflux or Duodenogastroesophageal reflux?

Bile Reflux or Duodenogastroesophageal Reflux is caused by the contents of the Duodenum entering the stomach and the esophagus causing symptoms and damage to the stomach and esophagus.

What is Gastroeseophageal Reflux?

What is Esophagitis?

Esophagitis is the inflammation (-itis) of the esophagus. An irritant that can be acid, bile, food and digestive enzymes coming back up the esophagus can cause irritation and swelling of the cells lining the esophagus. If left untreated, it can damage the lining of the esophagus to the point of erosion and scarring. There is a relationship between DGER occurrence and the severity of esophageal lesions.

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is the inflammation of the lining of the stomach. This may cause erosion of the lining of the stomach. This could be caused by bacterial growth or bile reflux. Gastritis can be either a acute or chronic issue that left untreated can lead to more severe problems such as bleeding or cancer.

 How to Diagnose Bile Reflux or Duodenogastroesophageal reflux?

Diagnosis takes careful consideration due to the high likelihood that DGER most often happens in conjunction with GERD and the symptoms of both are similar.  Medical treatment with medication to treat GERD and assist with DGER. Other important diagnostic test may include:

• PH study
• Motility, Gastric emptying study
• Upper endoscopy and biopsy
• Esophogeal Bilirubin Monitoring Bilitec
• Proton Pump Inhibitor Test

Treatments options:

• Lifestyle:
  • Avoid eating at least 3 hours prior to bedtime or reclining
  • Weight loss if needed
  • Avoid fatty foods, caffeine, peppermint, alcohol, garlic, onions, tomato products
  • Cessation of smoking
• Medications: Acid and Pepsin suppression therapy
  • Proton Pump Inhibitor *PPI use increases  risk of Clostridium difficile colitis and bacterial gastroenteritis
  • H2 Blocker
  • Bile Acid Sequestrants
  • Ursodeoxycholic acid
• Surgery

Surgery for Bile Reflux:

The Stand-Alone Duodenal Switch procedure without a Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass pouch was developed by Dr. Tom R. DeMeester in the 1980’s to treat bile-reflux gastritis, a condition in which the stomach and esophagus are irritated by bile that goes back through the pylorus to the stomach.  The DeMeester procedure creates a shorter bilipancreatic channel than the Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch for weight loss.  The Bile Reflux Duodenal Switch biliopancreatic channel is approximately 25-110 cm and alimentary channel 50 – 110 cm depending on symptoms, health history, weight, etc. These measurements are significantly different than the Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch for weight loss.

 Duodenal Switch for Bile Reflux References: