Obesity is a risk factor for internal hernia after laparoscopic or robot-assisted gastrectomy with mesenteric defect...

Internal hernia (IH) is a life-threatening complication after gastrectomy. The increase in the frequency of minimally invasive surgery is considered to be related to the increase in the frequency of IH, and mesenteric defect closure has been recommended to reduce this complication. However, IH can occur even when mesenteric defects are closed, so the risk of IH in the patients with mesenteric closure remains uncertain. We attempted to clarify the risk factors for IH in these patients.

From 2013 to 2017, we retrospectively reviewed 310 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic or robot-assisted gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y (RY) or double-tract (DT) reconstruction with mesenteric defect closure. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors.

The incidence of IH was 1.3% (n = 4). A preoperative body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² (p = 0.044), postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.034), and body weight loss rate at 6 months ≥ 15% (p = 0.045) were risk factors for IH on a univariate analysis. A multivariate analysis showed that a BMI at the time of surgery of ≥ 25 kg/m² was an independent risk factor for IH (odds ratio = 11.9, p = 0.049).

Preoperative obesity is an independent risk factor for IH after minimally invasive gastrectomy followed by RY or DT reconstruction with mesenteric defect closure. We need to conduct vigilant follow-up for IH, especially in these patients.