Therapy of stenosis after sleeve gastrectomy: stent and surgery as alternatives--case reports

The growing enthusiasm to perform laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in morbidly obese patients exposes also the complications associated with this type of surgery. LSG is not only performed in super-super-obese patients, but in addition has also its standing as a procedure in patients with multiple intraabdominal adhesions based on prior surgeries or after failed gastric banding. However, over the years there are characteristic complications as demonstrated by the increasing number of surgical interventions. Beside the risk of an insufficiency at the staple line, there is just as well the risk of a stenosis.

The case reports will present several ways of the treatment that can be regarded as alternative approaches.

The final decision to perform a surgery or to implant a stent needs to be calculated from case to case. This demonstrates the importance of an experienced team of surgeons and endoscopists.