[Postoperative complications in the Billroth I gastrectomy]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Billroth I gastric resection is a surgical procedure for treating gastric and duodenal ulcers.
• Assessing postoperative complications is crucial for surgical outcomes.

Observation:

• A cohort of 234 patients undergoing Billroth I gastric resection for ulcerous lesions was analyzed.
• Immediate postoperative complications were meticulously documented.

Findings:

• The overall incidence of immediate postoperative complications was 5.5%.
• Dehiscence of the gastroduodenal anastomosis emerged as a particularly serious complication.
• This severe complication necessitated emergency surgical reconversion, specifically a gastrojejunostomy with duodenal stump inversion.

Implications:

• These findings highlight the critical risks associated with Billroth I resections, particularly anastomotic integrity.
• The study underscores the importance of prompt recognition and management of gastroduodenal dehiscence.
• Emergency gastrojejunostomy serves as a vital salvage procedure for severe anastomotic complications.