Gastrectomy for Complications of Bariatric Procedures

BACKGROUND: Major complications of modern bariatric operations are infrequent but can be quite disabling to the patient and pose therapeutic challenges to the surgeon. We present our experience with five patients who underwent gastrectomy for complications following gastric reduction procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1991 and 1995, four women and one man, average age 46.8 years (34-66), underwent total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y end-to-side esophagojejunostomy (4), or near-total gastrectomy with esophagogastrostomy (1). The decision to perform total gastrectomy was based on the poor quality of the remaining gastric pouch and the surgeon's judgement. Preoperative diagnoses included gastric outlet obstruction secondary to anastomotic ulcer or stricture, gastroesophageal reflux with esophagitis, chronic gastrocutaneous fistula, and iatrogenic linitis secondary to gastric wrap with mesh. Preoperatively, the patients complained of intolerable nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dysphagia. RESULTS: in the five patients who underwent total or near-total gastrectomy, there was no operative mortality or morbidity; however, one patient (near-total gastrectomy) has required a second operation for pyloroplasty. Although one patient was lost to follow-up 6 months after surgery, the average follow-up for the remaining four patients is 2 years. These four patients were interviewed and all report complete satisfaction with their surgery and much improvement in their symptoms. Presently, they consume an average of three meals per day (range 2-6), with each meal measuring about 2 cups in size. All report the sensation of satiety after meals. All patients receive supplemental iron, B12, and multivitamins. From a nutritional standpoint, there has not been a significant change in the levels of albumin, total protein, hematocrit, weight and BMI since total gastrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y end-to-side esophagojejunostomy is an appropriate therapy with low morbidity and mortality in highly selected patients with complications resulting from gastric reduction procedures.