Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Reversal for Severe Malnutrition and Cirrhosis

Severe post-operative malnutrition (SM) is a dreaded complication after gastric bypass often related to the short bowel syndrome consecutive limb length mismeasurement or intestinal resections. Patients with rapid weight loss or malnutrition can experience liver failure with cirrhosis and require liver transplantation (LT). Malnutrition can constitute a contraindication to LT since it negatively impacts on postoperative morbidity. RYGB reversal is an effective option to consider when nutritional support has failed. We describe the performance of a RYGB reversal in a pre-LT setting.

A 36-year-old patient with morbid obesity (weight, 140 kg; BMI, 50.1 kg/m²) underwent a RYGB 9 years ago. She presented with 85 kg weight loss (i.e., 60.7% total body weight loss) associated with SM and hepatocellular insufficiency. LT was considered but contraindicated because of SM. An intensive nutritional support was attempted but failed and the RYGB reversal was recommended.

Laparoscopic exploration revealed ascites, cirrhosis, and splenomegaly. The whole small bowel measurement revealed a short gut. Alimentary, biliary, and common channel limb lengths were 250 cm, 150 cm, and 30 cm long. The alimentary limb was stapled off the gastric pouch and the gastrojejunostomy was resected. After resection of the gastrojejunostomy, linear stappled gastro-gastrostomy and jéjuno-jejunostomy were performed to restore the normal anatomy. At 1 year, malnutrition was resolved and the cirrhosis was stabilized.

Reversal to normal anatomy appeared effective and safe in this setting but must be considered only after failure of intensive medical management. Careful bowel measurement is mandatory to prevent patients from this complication.