Treatment of leaking gastrojejunostomy after gastric bypass surgery with special emphasis on stenting

BackgroundGastric bypass is one of the most common operations for morbid obesity. One of the most feared complications is a leak, most commonly encountered in the gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA), leading to significant morbidity and increased costs. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of stenting leaks in the GJA. The setting was a university hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of all gastric bypasses from January 2001 to August 2011, with special reference to the treatment of leaks in the GJA.ResultsA postoperative leak in the GJA occurred in 69 of 2214 patients. The risk was greater with open surgery and revisional surgery. The risk was also greater with age >50 years but not with a body mass index >50 kg/m². There was no mortality. In the later part of the series, stents were used, with a stent time of 2 weeks. The migration rate was 23%, and need for restenting was 20%.ConclusionIt is safe and advantageous to use stents in the treatment of leaks at the GJA. Patients can be on oral nutrition and oral medication, reducing the need for in-hospital care.