Internal Hernia as a Complication of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Background Internal hernia (IH) is a well known complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) which is more frequently encountered when the RYGBP is done laparoscopically. Methods Patients with IH were identified from a prospective data-base of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery at our center. Results 10 patients with IH were identified out of 625 patients undergoing LRYGBP from 1998 to 2006 (incidence 1.6%). The defects were closed in the last 155 cases with non-absorbable running sutures. There were 8 women and 2 men with mean age 38 years (range 28–54).The mean interval of time elapsed between LRYGBP and clinical presentation of IH was 26.5 months (range 7 days–72 months). Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting were the most common complaints. White blood cell count was increased to a mean of 64 mg/dl (range 45–155 mg/dl) in 6 patients. CT scan showed signs of intestinal obstruction in all 7 patients with acute presentation. Surgery was done by laparoscopy in 5 cases (2 in the setting of emergency), and by laparotomy in the remaining 5 cases. All IHs were located at the mesenteric defect and were treated with IH reduction in all but one patient who underwent small bowel resection. There was no mortality, and one patient had pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome that resolved favorably. Conclusions IH after LRYGBP occurred mainly at the mesenteric defect and in patients with no closure of the defect. The antecolic approach for the Roux-limb, the division of the greater omentum only when too thick, and the systematic closure of the defects with tight non-absorbable running sutures are recommended.     

Intussusception Complicating Pregnancy following Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most common bariatric surgical procedure in the USA in women of reproductive age. A pregnant patient presented with nonspecific upper abdominal pain and nausea, suggesting an internal hernia. At surgery, an intussusception was identified and reduced without complications. Obstetricians should be familiar with late serious complications of bariatric surgery.     

Hemobilia Due to Cystic Artery Stump Pseudoaneurysm Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Case Presentation and Literature Review

Hemobilia is the process of bleeding into the biliary tree and is an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. When this event results from a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm, it is a particularly rare phenomenon; fewer than 20 cases are described in the literature. Alongside the literature review, we report a case of a 34-year-old woman presenting 3 months post laparoscopic cholecystectomy with hematemesis. Computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm. Following an ineffective hyperselective arterial embolization, the patient was successfully treated by surgical ligation of the right hepatic artery. Even though this complication is uncommon, all surgeons need to be aware of its presentation and of available therapeutic options.     

Abdominal Actinomycosis: a Rare Complication after Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

A 33-year-old, morbidity obese woman underwent a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in November 2004. She presented 18 months later with a history of recurrent pain in the upper region of the abdomen and severe vomiting. Radiologic and endoscopic evaluations revealed wall thickening in the transverse colon and a solid tumor near the liver. Therefore, a sonography-guided biopsy of the tumor was performed. Cytopathological examination revealed actinomycosis. Thus, therapy with penicillin was started, after which the parameters associated with the infection decreased. The symptoms persisted, however, and the decision was made to operate on the patient to resect the abdominal masses. Nearly 90% of the masses could be removed. Histological analysis showed a fibro-productive inflammation with an actinomycotic etiology. Antibiotic therapy with penicillin was continued for 6 months. Actinomycosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with abdominal mass, wall thickening of the intestine, and other such symptoms, including abdominal pain following bariatric surgery, even many years after the intervention.     

Small Bowel Obstruction After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass with Nonclosure of Mesenteric Defects

Methods:This is a retrospective review of a series of consecutive LGBs over a 3-year period. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon using the same technique. In no case was the mesenteric defect closed. A prospectively maintained database was used for data collection. Patients who returned with an SBO were the study group, and those who underwent revisional bariatric surgery or conversion to open operation were excluded.Results:There were 249 primary LGBs performed during the study period; 15 of the operations were followed by SBO, for an incidence of 6.0%. Four cases were caused by an internal hernia (IH), for an incidence of 1.6%, and 11 were caused by adhesions, which accounted for 73% of the SBOs.Conclusions:SBO after LGB is a relatively common complication. The incidence of SBO from IH with nonclosure of the mesenteric defect is similar to that in other series where the defect is closed. Regardless of the cause of the SBO, operative treatment of the patient who has a gastric bypass remains the definitive standard and should not be delayed.     

Intussusception: An Uncommon Cause of Postoperative Small Bowel Obstruction after Gastric Bypass

Intussusception of the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis is a rare complication of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP).There are only 3 previous cases reported in the surgical literature. We describe 2 adults who developed jejuno-jejunal intussusception requiring emergent laparotomy several months after RYGBP. Both patients underwent exploratory laparotomy after the diagnosis was made with abdominal CT scan. Each patient had an uneventful postoperative course after bowel resection and revision of the enteroenterostomy. Small bowel obstruction due to intussusception may occur many months after RYGBP and may present with non-specific symptoms such as crampy abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The diagnosis of this rare entity is typically made via abdominal CT scan. Treatment mandates urgent abdominal exploration with reduction.     

Internal Herniation after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

Internal herniation, defined as a protrusion of the bowel through a peritoneal or mesenteric aperture into a compartment of the abdominal cavity, is a potentially serious complication following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. In view of the high risk of strangulation and volvulus with possible progression to necrotic bowel, sepsis and multiple organ failure, early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are crucial to minimise morbidity and mortality rates. As little is known about internal herniation, pathogenesis, consequences, clinical presentation and diagnostic approach are discussed in this article. A review of the literature and the consideration of three cases make it clear that diagnosis is often delayed due to a vague, non-specific clinical presentation and the frequently negative radiological investigations. Displacement of the superior mesenteric artery (SmA) with crowding, stretching and engorgement of its visceral branches, mesenteric swirl and a clustered appearance of small bowel loops are CT findings with a high specificity but low sensitivity. A high degree of vigilance, communication between radiologists and surgeons and a low threshold for surgical exploration is therefore necessary.     

Pseudoaneurysm of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery: Case Report and Literature Review

Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the dorsalis pedis artery are rare vascular entities usually caused by traumatic injury or iatrogenic intervention, producing a focal soft pulsatile tissue mass in the dorsal foot. Gradual expansion of the fibrous capsule can produce secondary physical signs through the pressure exerted on surrounding structures. We report the case of a 57-year-old male with an idiopathic pseudoaneurysm of the dorsalis pedis artery. A focused history found a low-grade blunt trauma to the dorsal foot that had occurred 2 years previously. The diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm was confirmed by ultrasound examinations and computed tomography angiograms. The pseudoaneurysm was treated with resection, and a short reversed great saphenous vein interposition graft was placed. He recovered well after surgery and remained free of symptoms 18 months postoperatively. The literature review of this uncommon vascular pathologic entity and the diagnosis and management are discussed.     

Incidence and treatment of intussusception following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Intussusception is a rare yet potentially life-threatening complication following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Multiple case reports have described this complication, and recently, several retrospective studies have been published describing the surgical treatment of intussusception. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of intussusception following RYGB and provide insight into outcomes of subsequent operative treatment. A systematic search was performed using the PubMed and Cochrane databases. Article selection was performed using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses criteria, and selecting articles describing the incidence of intussusception following RYGB. Data was pooled only when 3 or more comparable studies reported on the same outcome. The incidence of intussusception and outcomes of subsequent treatment were analyzed. Furthermore, all published case reports describing intussusception following RYGB were analyzed. A total of 74 studies published between 1991 and 2020 were included, describing 191 patients who underwent RYGB and developed intussusception. We retrieved 68 case reports, including 84 patients, and 6 retrospective studies describing outcomes of surgical treatment in 107 patients, which were used to pool data. There was a predominance of females among the included patients (85%–98%), and patients had significant weight loss following RYGB. The pooled incidence of intussusception following RYGB was .64%. Resection of the affected segment was performed in 34% of the patients. A pooled recurrence rate of 22% was found during follow-up. Resection and reconstruction of the jejunojejunostomy appears to be associated with the lowest risk of recurrence and acceptable complication rates. The pooled incidence of intussusception following RYGB is 0.64%. Typically, patients are female with significant weight loss after RYGB. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings and computed tomography scans, warranting early surgical exploration due to the high risk for ischemia. Resection of the jejunojejunostomy appears to be associated with the lowest recurrence rates and acceptable complication rates.     

A Two-Consultant Approach is a Safe and Efficient Strategy to Adopt during the Learning Curve for Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Our Results in the First 100 Procedures

Background Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) can be technically challenging. It is imperative that patient morbidity and mortality are minimized while teams are on the learning curve for this procedure. Methods This retrospective study evaluated the peri-operative risk of LRYGBP utilizing a two-consultant surgeon approach in a newly established bariatric service. 100 consecutive patients undergoing LRYGBP were included. Two consultants participated in each procedure. Results Median operative duration was 113 minutes (range 80–240) and fell with increasing experience [127 minutes (range 90–240) in cases 1–50 and 105 minutes (range 80–210) in cases 51–100; P = 0.009]. Multivariate analysis found operation time correlated only with number of procedures performed (P < 0.001). There were no conversions to laparotomy. Intra-operatively, 2 patients had hand-assisted completion of the jejuno-jejunostomy, and 2 underwent laparoscopic revision of the reconstruction. Postoperative complications were observed in 8 patients on the operative admission. Median stay was 4 days (range 3–7). 4 patients required readmission. There was no mortality. Percentage of excess BMI loss was 47%, 53% and 70% at 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. Conclusion A learning curve for LRYGBP is evidenced in this series by reduction in operative time with increasing experience. Complication rates in line with large published series can be achieved by adopting a two-surgeon approach, which we propose as a safe method to adopt in the development of new bariatric services.     

Surgical technique in constructing the jejunojejunostomy and the risk of small bowel obstruction after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BackgroundMechanical problems at the level of the jejunojejunostomy (JJ) have been identified as a cause of small bowel obstruction (SBO) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to investigate associations between specific surgical techniques used to construct the JJ and the subsequent risk of SBO.SettingNationwide Registry, Sweden.MethodsThe risk of SBO after primary RYGB surgery during 2012–2019 was assessed using data from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry and the Swedish National Patient Register. The impact of unidirectional or bidirectional stapling and length of the mesenteric division (0, 1–4, or ≥5 cm) at the JJ was analyzed with adjustments for known covariates.ResultsWe analyzed outcomes from 23,448 patients (mean follow-up = 4.3 ± 2.2 yr). In multivariate analysis, bidirectional stapling of the JJ was associated with a reduced 30-day risk of SBO (hazard ratio [HR] = .52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .29–.95, P < .05), whereas limited mesenteric division (1–4 cm) increased the risk of SBO (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.14–2.42, P < .01). The long-term incidence of SBO was increased by bidirectional stapling but unaffected by mesenteric division. However, mesenteric division decreased the long-term risk of SBO in patients with a bidirectionally stapled JJ (1–4 cm, HR = .59, 95% CI = .38–.90, P < .05; ≥5 cm, HR = .30, 95% CI = .14–.65, P < .005).ConclusionsThe surgical technique for construction of the JJ may affect the incidence of SBO after RYGB surgery.     

Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm: A Report of Seven Cases and a Review of the Literature

Purpose To analyze seven cases of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) encountered at our hospital and review the relevant literature.Methods We searched the computerized medical record database from January 1, 1996, to September 1, 2003, to identify all cases of HAP, which we then reviewed in detail, examining etiology, findings, laboratory data, therapeutic intervention, complications, and outcome. We then compared these findings with those reported in the literature.Results There were five cases of HAP among 18 015 trauma and surgical admissions to the University of California Irvine Medical Center, representing an incidence of 0.03%. There were an additional two cases of HAP among 200 orthotopic liver transplants (OLT). The five HAPs not associated with OLT were preceded by blunt abdominal trauma, liver biopsy, pancreatic pseudocyst, and polyarteritis nodosa, in one patient each, and there was no apparent cause in one patient. Two patients were treated by ligation, and the patients with post-OLT HAP underwent resection and replacement with saphenous bypass grafts. Successful embolization was performed in the other three patients.Conclusion Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but dangerous complication of both acute surgical and chronic injury to the hepatic artery. However, early diagnosis and intervention can result in an excellent long-term outcome.     

Conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for complications: outcomes from a tertiary referral center in the Middle East

BackgroundComplications after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) unfortunately lead a subset of patients to require revisional surgery, including conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).ObjectivesWe aimed to describe the indications for conversion and perioperative outcomes in this subset of patients.SettingAcademic hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.MethodsAll patients undergoing conversion from SG to RYGB from September 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent conversion solely for weight recidivism were excluded from analysis.ResultsForty-seven patients underwent conversion to RYGB due to complications from SG. The cohort was 76.5% female with a mean age of 39 years and median body mass index of 34 kg/m². The median time between SG and RYGB was 36 months. Indications warranting conversion included mechanical complications (n = 24, 51.1%), intractable reflux (n = 21, 44.7%), and fistula (n = 2, 4.2%). Preoperative mechanical abnormalities included hiatal hernia (n = 13, 27.7%), helical twist (n = 10, 21.3%), sleeve stenosis/stricture (n = 5, 10.6%), fistula (n = 2, 4.2%), and leak (n = 1, 2.1%). Each conversion was completed with a laparoscopic approach, with a median length of stay of 3 days. Four patients (8.5%) experienced complications within 30 days, including 2 patients (4.2%) with superficial surgical site infection, 1 patient each (2.1%) with gastrointestinal hemorrhage and anastomotic leak. There were no mortalities at a median follow-up of 17 months.ConclusionIn this series, representing the largest reported single-center experience in the Middle East, conversion of SG to RYGB was safe and effective for the treatment of symptoms and mechanical complications after SG.     

Mini-Gastric Bypass by Mini-Laparotomy: A Cost-Effective Alternative in the Laparoscopic Era

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (MGB) is being increasingly performed worldwide. Results of MGB by mini-laparotomy (minilap MGB) are hereby reported. METHODS: 126 patients undergoing minilap MGB from October 2004 to October 2006, were reviewed at an academic institution. RESULTS: Mean age was 35 +/- 11.4 years (range 15-72), preoperative BMI was 44 +/- 6.9 kg/m2 (range 35-61.8) and 80 (63.4%) were women. Co-morbidities were present in 42 (33.3%). Operative time was 144 +/- 15.8 minutes (range 120-160) and length of hospital stay was 3.32 +/- 0.62 days (range 2-18). There was no hospital mortality, and the in-hospital complication rate was 4.7%. No anastomotic leakage occurred, and the incidence of wound sepsis was 2.3%. The mean total cost of the procedure was 3408 +/- 547 USD (range 2967-6876). Five patients (3.9%) developed incisional hernias and 3 (2.3%) marginal ulcers. BMI at 6 months was 33.0 +/- 3.1 kg/m2 (range 26.8-43.5, P < 0.001) compared with preoperative value. At 1 year, mean excess weight loss was 68.4% and comorbidities resolved in 85%. CONCLUSION: Minilap MGB is a simple, safe, effective and low-cost gastric bypass. It represents an attractive cost-effective alternative to laparoscopic MGB.     

减重术对骨密度影响的临床研究进展

肥胖症会导致个体预期寿命缩短、生活质量下降,尤其是在那些罹患2型糖尿病、心血管疾病的个体中。减重术如Roux-en-Y胃旁路术（Roux-en-Y gastric bypass,RYGB）、袖状胃切除术（sleeve gastrectomy,SG）可使大多数患者的体重明显减轻,并显著改善肥胖相关的合并症。但大量研究证据证实减重术会引起骨密度下降、骨折风险增高等。笔者基于临床常用的RYGB、SG对患者术后骨代谢的影响及其相关机制的相关文献予以综述。     

Perioperative outcome of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: A children's hospital experience

Background/Purpose

To evaluate the perioperative safety of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in a freestanding children's hospital setting.

Patients and Methods

Perioperative (< 90 days) clinical complications of 77 consecutive patients (mean age 16.8 ± 2.1 years: mean BMI 59.4 kg/m², 68% female), who underwent LRYGB at Cincinnati Children's Hospital from 2002 to 2007 were examined, using standardized data collection forms that were created specifically for use in this study.

Results

No mortality or conversion to open surgery was observed. Intraoperative complications were uncommon (3%). No anesthetic complications or transfusion requirements were observed. Median hospital stay was 3 days. Twenty-two percent of subjects had a complication from discharge to 30 days, while 13% experienced a complication between 31 and 90 days. The common types of postoperative complications included gastrojejunal anastomotic stricture (17%), leak (7%), dehydration (7%), and small bowel obstruction (SBO; 5%). Reoperation was required in 9 subjects. Operating time significantly decreased as the number of cases performed increased.

Conclusions

LRYGB in this case series of adolescents was associated with a low rate of intraoperative complications, with an increased rate over the ensuing 90 days. These events can be successfully managed, even in super obese adolescents.     

Iatrogenic Pseudoaneurysm of Internal Mammary Artery: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract   Pseudoaneurysms of the internal mammary artery (IMA) following median sternotomy are very uncommon and were first reported in 1973. Presentation and treatment of such a complication has been variable. We are presenting a case of a patient with pseudoaneurysm of IMA after mitral valve replacement. Selective embolization of the branches of right IMA was performed. Hematoma was evacuated after a week without any complication. Patient was reviewed in the clinic after 6 weeks and she was doing very well.