Successful intragastric suture repair using endoscopy for refractory ischemic stomach perforation: A case report

Ischemic stomach perforation and bleeding are major complications after distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Although there are some treatment options for ischemic gastric events, we need to discuss the optimal treatment based on the patient's general condition and history.

A 76-year-old woman with advanced pancreatic cancer underwent DP-CAR with the reconstruction of the common hepatic artery-celiac artery. She presented with a high fever and melena at 13 days and twenty-nine days after the operation, respectively. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) demonstrated ischemic stomach perforation, which was localized. Although nonsurgical treatments, including endoscopic clipping and proton-pump inhibitor administration, were attempted, her symptoms were not relieved. Therefore, we performed intragastric suture repair using oral endoscopy (ISE) for gastric perforation. Although she presented with surgical site infection and a catheter-related blood stream infection after ISE, she was discharged 140 days after the first operation.

Ischemic gastric events following DP-CAR can be treated with non-surgical and surgical approaches. In this case, non-surgical management could not improve the patient's gastric complications, and she had to undergo surgery. Given the patient's condition, ISE was an indication for this complication and was, thus, performed among surgical procedures, resulting in the alleviation of the complication. Using ISE may provide safe and less invasive surgery.

This is the first case of ISE for use in refractory ischemic stomach perforation following DP-CAR. ISE can be a useful and minimally invasive surgical procedure.