A Case of Afferent Loop Obstruction Secondary to Recurrent Carcinoma of the Stomach with Ultrasound and CT. Scan Findings

A case of afferent loop obstruction secondary to recurrent carcinoma of the stomach is reported. The patient presented in the early recurrence period with the clinical picture similar to that of pancreatic pseudocyst. This was the first reported case of afferent loop obstruction demonstrated by abdominal ultrasound and C.T. scan. The radiological distinguishing features and similarities of pancreatic pseudocyst and afferent loop obstruction are discussed. This case also shows a rarely reported manifestation of recurrent carcinoma of the stomach.     

Biliary stone causing afferent loop syndrome and pancreatitis

INTRODUCTION The afferent loop syndrome is a mechanical obstruction that impairs the clearance of bile and pancreatic juices from the afferent jejunal loop of a gastrojejunostomy. Entrapment of the afferent loop by postoperative adhesions, internal hernias, loop kinking at the gastrojejunostomy, intestinal volvulus, intussusception, anastomotic cancer, enteroliths and bezoars have all been incriminated as causes. A cholecystoenteric fistula with biliary stone impactation in the anastomosis…     

Acute pancreatitis and afferent loop syndrome

A new case of afferent loop obstruction presenting as acute pancreatitis is described. It is an uncommon manifestation of the afferent loop syndrome: less than 20 cases found in the literature. The diagnosis of afferent loop obstruction should be suspected in any patient with acute pancreatitis and a previous Billroth II gastrectomy. Duodenopancreatic reflux seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis in this situation. The "closed duodenal loop" experimental model of acute pancreatitis simulates quite closely this clinical situation. The physiopathological principles, diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome is reviewed.     

A case of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma associated with perforation of an afferent loop after subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth 2 anastomosis for its severe gastrointestinal involvement

A 50-year-old man was admitted to hospital for dysphagia. The upper gastrointestinal series revealed esophageal stricture, pyloric stenosis, and hypomotile small intestine. He was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma with gastrointestinal involvement. After subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth 2 anastomosis, he had recurrent intestinal pseudo-obstruction and perforation of the afferent loop. Our experience indicates that surgical procedures in bowel scleroderma, in which an afferent loop is reconstructed, could easily cause perforation of the afferent loop.     

A case of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma associated with perforation of an afferent loop after subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth 2 anastomosis for its severe gastrointestinal involvement

Abstract

A 50-year-old man was admitted to hospital for dysphagia. The upper gastrointestinal series revealed esophageal stricture, pyloric stenosis, and hypomotile small intestine. He was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma with gastrointestinal involvement. After subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth 2 anastomosis, he had recurrent intestinal pseudo-obstruction and perforation of the afferent loop. Our experience indicates that surgical procedures in bowel scleroderma, in which an afferent loop is reconstructed, could easily cause perforation of the afferent loop.     

A case of acute afferent loop syndrome treated by endoscopic decompression]

A 67-year-old woman underwent distal gastrectomy (Billroth type II reconstruction) for gastric ulcer perforation in March, 2001. In October of the same year, she was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute afferent loop syndrome with severe acute pancreatitis. The patient was successfully treated by endoscopic decompression of the afferent loop, followed by continuous drainage. Combined use of decompression and percutaneous abscess drainage was effective for the management of the retroperitoneal abscess. The most common treatment strategy employed for acute afferent loop syndrome is surgical therapy, however, the experience in this patient suggests that endoscopic drainage, which is less invasive, may also be considered.     

Obstructive jaundice and acute pancreatitis due to an obstruction of the afferent loop after billroth-II-resection

An obstruction of the afferent loop after Billroth-II-resection is an extremely rare late complication of this procedure. We report on a 76-year-old female patient with a history of Billroth-II-resection 11 years ago who was admitted due to acute pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice. Abdominal sonography lead to the suspicion of a dilated afferent loop, which could be proven by means of magnetic resonance imaging. A tumorous lesion as cause of the obstructive jaundice was not detectable. Intraoperatively a volvulus of the small intestine and strangling adhesions near the Braun's anastomosis were seen, causing the obstruction of the afferent loop. Following reposition of the small intestine and adhesiolysis the patient gained a quick relief of symptoms and the jaundice disappeared completely.     

Difficulty in walking 10 years after gastric surgery

A 65-year-old gentleman presented with a history of abdominal distension and difficulty in walking 10 years after a Polya partial gastrectomy. Clinical history and neurological examination suggested an axonal sensory neuropathy. A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed a large afferent jejunal loop, and a hydrogen breath test confirmed small-bowel bacterial overgrowth secondary to the blind loop syndrome. Serological tests revealed low copper levels, which are a cause of a myeloneuropathy. The trace element deficiency occurred as a consequence of small-bowel bacterial overgrowth, and with antibiotic treatment of the bacterial overgrowth and copper supplementation his symptoms markedly improved.     

A case of afferent loop syndrome with acute cholangitis developed after percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy for treatment of choledocholithiasis in a patient who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy

Afferent loop syndrome is a rare complication which can occur in patients with Billroth II gastrectomy. Bile and pancreatic juice is congested at afferent loop in the syndrome. This syndrome can progress rapidly to necrosis, perforation, or severe sepsis, and therefore early diagnosis and swift surgical intervention is important. But, cases of endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic drainage have been reported when surgical management was inappropriate to proceed. We report a case of afferent loop syndrome accompanying acute cholangitis developed after percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy for the retrieval of common bile duct stone in a patient who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy due to early gastric cancer. There was no other organic cause. We treated afferent loop syndrome successfully by performing balloon dilation of afferent loop outlet.     

Laparoscopic jejuno-jejunostomy for afferent loop stasis following truncal vagotomy with posterior gastro-jejunostomy for pyloric stenosis.

A 47-year-old man presented with epigastric pain relieved by bilious vomiting since one month. He had undergone truncal vagotomy with posterior gastrojejunostomy for benign gastric outlet obstruction 2 years ago. Endoscopy showed distension and stasis in the afferent loop, bile gastritis and esophagitis. Laparoscopic Braun jejunojejunostomy relieved his symptoms.     

A decreased number of c-<Emphasis Type="Italic">kit</Emphasis>-expressing cells in a patient with afferent loop syndrome

Following gastrectomy, stasis in the afferent jejunal loop accompanied by an overgrowth of bacteria leads to a number of clinical symptoms, including the so-called afferent loop syndrome. The disturbances in intestinal motility may be related to stagnation of the intestinal contents in the afferent loop. The pacemaker cells for the basic contractile activity of the intestine are thought to be the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). We and others have reported that ICCs express the c-kit receptor, and that a decreased number of c-kit-expressing ICCs is generally thought to result in disturbed intestinal motility. We report here a patient with postgastrectomy afferent loop syndrome with a decreased number of c-kit-expressing cells in the external muscle layer of the dilated intestine, suggesting damage to the ICCs. Received: November 8, 2001 / Accepted: February 22, 2002 Reprint requests to: T. Kiyohara Editorial on page 414     

A case of afferent loop syndrome treated by endoscopic drainage procedure using nasogastric tube]

Afferent loop syndrome is an uncommon complication which occurs in patients with Billroth II partial gastrectomy. Clinically, the diagnosis of afferent loop syndrome may be difficult to establish and thus, depends on the finding of computed tomography, abdominal ultrasound, barium studies and hepatobiliary scan. When the diagnosis is made, most of the cases are treated by surgical operation. We present a case of 67-year-old male patient with afferent loop syndrome associated with acute pancreatitis which was treated by endoscopic drainage procedure using a nasogastric tube.     

ENDOSCOPIC REMOVAL OF AN ENTEROLITH CAUSING AFFERENT LOOP SYNDROME USING ELECTROHYDRAULIC LITHOTRIPSY

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy is a very useful method for fragmenting biliary stones and it can be used for endoscopic removal of difficult biliary stones. Acute afferent loop syndrome induced by enterolith is very rare, and surgical treatment is the usual choice for this condition. We describe a patient with acute afferent loop syndrome, which was induced by an enterolith after a Billroth II gastrectomy. We used electrohydraulic lithotripsy to endoscopically remove the enterolith.     

Computed tomography of chronic afferent loop obstruction: a case report and review

The computed tomographic findings in a case of chronic afferent loop obstruction are presented. Multiple cystic abdominal masses which merge caudally are demonstrated. They display uniform diameter, thin rims, and attenuation numbers of water density. We agree with others who have advocated computed tomography as the investigative method of choice for this diagnosis.     

The retained antrum, its endoscopic diagnosis and clinical significance]

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding. Seventeen years previously, he had a Billroth II procedure for a bleeding duodenal ulcer. A gastroscopy performed on admission showed a stomal ulcer with signs of recent haemorrhage. In the proximal end of the afferent loop, we saw retained gastric mucosa. Histological evaluation confirmed the existence of antrum gastric mucosa. Other diagnostic test for retained gastric antrum were normal. The different approaches in the diagnosis of retained gastric antrum, the importance of our findings and the clinic implications are discussed. We conclude that endoscopic management may be the first diagnostic method in the assessment of retained gastric antrum, and it's possible to find gastric mucosa in the proximal end of the afferent loop (antrum retained), without clinic manifestations.     

Bacteria, bile salts, and intestinal monosaccharide malabsorption

Intestinal monosaccharide transport was studied in a series of rats with a self-filling jejunal blind loop using 3mM arbutin (p-hydroxyphenyl-B-glucoside) or 1mM D-fructose as substrate in vitro and 10 mM arbutin or 5mM D-fructose in vivo. These results were compared with changes in the bacterial flora and state of conjugation of intraluminal bile salts in those animals. Observations were also made of the microscopic and ultrastructural appearances of the small-intestinal epithelium.In the small intestine of blind-loop rats intestinal monosaccharide transport is impaired, and in vitro is most marked in the blind loop, less so in the efferent jejunum, and not significantly altered in the afferent jejunum. A similar pattern of disturbed monosaccharide absorption was demonstrated by perfusions in vivo. The degree of the transport defect correlates closely with the luxuriance of the anaerobic flora, which averaged 10(8) per millilitre in the blind loop, 10(7) in the efferent jejunum, and 10(6) in the afferent jejunum. A similar pattern of abnormality of bile salt conjugation occurred. In the blind loop the ratio of free to conjugated bile salts was grossly abnormal; this disturbance was somewhat less marked in the efferent jejunum and considerably less in the intraluminal contents of the afferent jejunum. An irregularly distributed lesion, consisting of swelling and vacuolation of microvilli and intracellular organelles, was demonstrated in the small-intestinal epithelium of blind-loop animals.Impaired absorption of monosaccharides is a further consequence of bacterial contamination of the upper gut. It is suggested that this defect is caused by the presence of high levels of deconjugated bile salts produced by an abnormal anaerobic bacterial flora in the small intestine.     

Cap-assisted ERCP in patients with a Billroth II gastrectomy

BACKGROUND: ERCP is difficult in patients with a Billroth II gastrectomy because of anatomical changes. OBJECTIVE: Cap-assisted ERCP can improve the cannulation rate and the success rate of stone removal. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Ten consecutive patients with bile-duct stones (9) or a distal common bile duct stricture (1), who had previously undergone Billroth II gastrectomy and were referred for ERCP, were analyzed for the outcome of their ERCP. All procedures were carried out with a cap-fitted regular forward-viewing endoscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Ability to perform afferent loop intubation and bile-duct cannulation. RESULTS: Of 10 patients in whom ERCP was attempted, afferent loop intubation and selective bile-duct cannulation were achieved in all patients (100%). Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was successful in all 10 patients (100%). All stones were removed by EST alone in 7 patients and by both EST and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation in 2 patients. There were no serious complications in the patients. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, single-center experience. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP with a cap-fitted regular forward-viewing endoscope was successful in all patients with a prior Billroth II gastrectomy. The high rate of successful ERCP was achieved by improving afferent loop intubation and bile-duct cannulation with a cap-fitted endoscope.     

Afferent loop obstruction presenting as obstructive jaundice

The first case of obstructive jaundice secondary to a chronic afferent loop obstruction has been reported. The cause of the obstructed afferent loop was found to be a carcinoma of the gastric pouch occurring 25 years after surgery for peptic ulcer disease. The failure to develop any evidence of pancreatitis despite marked dilatation of the biliary tree and gall bladder suggests the existence of an independent functioning pancreatic sphincter, perhaps the sphincter of Boyden.     

Obstructive jaundice due to internal herniation: a case report and review of the literature

A 45-year-old man was suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting. He was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of ileus and obstructive jaundice. He had undergone Roux-en-Y anastomosis for choledocholithiasis 14 years earlier. A computed tomography scan revealed a dilated afferent loop and dilated intrahepatic bile duct. Upper gastrointestinal examination with contrast medium and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography showed a high intestinal obstruction around the jejunojejunal anastomosis. The patient underwent laparotomy based on a diagnosis of obstructive jaundice due to ileus. During the operation, he was found to have internal herniation of the small bowel through a rent in the mesentery around the Roux-en-Y anastomosis for choledochojejunostomy. The hernia was reduced, and bowel resection was performed due to stenosis of the afferent loop. Jejunojejunal anastomosis was re-performed and the defect in the mesocolon was closed. Internal herniation after Roux-en-Y anastomosis is a rare sequela, but it should be recognized that this complication can occur after Roux-en-Y anastomosis. For prevention of internal herniation around the Roux-en-Y limb, secure closing of the mesenteric defects is important.