An Algorithmic Approach to the Management of Gastric Stenosis Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Gastric stenosis (GS) is a potential adverse event post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Endoscopic management is preferred; however, there is significant variation in therapeutic strategies with no defined algorithm. This study aims to describe the safety and efficacy of a predefined step-wise algorithm for endoscopic management of GS post-LSG.

Consecutive patients with symptomatic GS post-LSG, presenting between July 2015 and August 2016, were subjected to a predefined treatment algorithm of serial dilations using achalasia balloons, followed by a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS) if dilations were inadequate. Patients who did not respond or opted out of ongoing endoscopic therapy were offered revision Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Total of 17 patients underwent a median of 2 (range 1-4) balloon dilations. Twelve patients (70.6%) reported clinical improvement with balloon dilation alone, while 3 (17.6%) required subsequent FCSEMS placement. One patient suffered a tear to the muscularis propria with balloon dilation, which was managed conservatively. Overall, 15 (88.2%) reported clinical improvement with endoscopic management. PAGI-SYM scores revealed that the strongest response to therapy, based on mean reduction of score ± SD, was in the following items: nausea (3 ± 1.9, P < 0.001), heartburn during day (2.8 ± 1.5, P = 0.003), heartburn on lying down (3.4 ± 1.4, P < 0.001), reflux during day (2.8 ± 1.9, P < 0.001), and reflux on lying down (3.0 ± 1.9, P < 0.001). Two (11.8%) patients failed endoscopic therapy and underwent RYGB.

Endoscopic management of GS using the described algorithmic approach is safe and effective post-LSG. Patients with severe stenosis or helical stenosis are likely to require revision RYGB.