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Small Bowel Obstruction After Antecolic and Antegastric Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Could the Incidence be Reduced?

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Abstract

Background

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) may be related to the surgical technique used. The frequency and characteristics of postoperative SBO were studied in two cohorts of patients after LRYGB.

Methods

In a 4-year period, 359 patients underwent LRYGB as an initial bariatric operation at our clinic. Patients were divided into two groups. In Group 1 (n = 187), the mesentery of the jejunum was widely divided, the mesenteric defect was closed, and Petersen’s space was not sutured. In Group 2 (n = 172), the mesentery was not divided, and both the mesenteric folds and Petersen’s space were closed. Episodes of SBO, etiology, treatment, and outcome were analyzed and compared.

Results

There were 141 males and 218 females, with mean age of 41 ± 11 years. Preoperative BMI was 43.2 ± 7 kg/m2. In Group 1, 29/187 patients (15.5%) developed SBO at a mean follow-up of 15 ± 6.4 months. In Group 2, 2/172 patients (1.1%) developed SBO at 12.3 ± 6.7 months. Internal hernia was responsible for the SBO in 29 patients (19 through the adjacent mesenteric defect and 10 through Petersen’s space). Mean EWL at the time of SBO was 82.2 ± 22.7%. SBO was successfully resolved by laparoscopy in 25 patients, conversion was necessary in three, and one was treated by open surgery. One patient presented intestinal perforation after revision.

Conclusions

Surgical details such as leaving the jejunal mesentery intact and closing all created defects significantly decreased the incidence of SBO due to internal hernias in antecolic antegastric LRYGB.

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Acknowledgment

To Dr Mervyn Deitel for his meticulous editorial revision.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Dr. Miguel Herrera:

Johnson & Johnson Medical Mexico: Grant for Education

Enteromedics Inc. Research Grant

The rest of the authors declare: We have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Obesity Clinic, American British Cowdray Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico

    Arturo Rodríguez, Maureen Mosti, Mauricio Sierra, Rocío Pérez-Johnson, Salvador Flores, Guillermo Dominguez, Hugo Sánchez, Artemio Zarco, Karen Romay & Miguel F. Herrera

  2. The Obesity Clinic, American British Cowdray Medical Center, Sur 136 #116 Torre Sur 4° Piso, Colonia Las Américas, Mexico DF, Mexico

    Miguel F. Herrera

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  1. Arturo Rodríguez
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  2. Maureen Mosti
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  3. Mauricio Sierra
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  4. Rocío Pérez-Johnson
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  5. Salvador Flores
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  6. Guillermo Dominguez
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  10. Miguel F. Herrera
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Correspondence to Miguel F. Herrera.

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Rodríguez, A., Mosti, M., Sierra, M. et al. Small Bowel Obstruction After Antecolic and Antegastric Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Could the Incidence be Reduced?. OBES SURG 20, 1380–1384 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0164-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0164-5

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