Pancreatic Leak After a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Severe adhesions in patients with previous abdominal operations may lead to a more challenging subsequent bariatric surgery [1, 2]. In this context, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the preferred weight loss surgery since it solely involves stomach resection (without bowel involvement) in one abdominal compartment. Additionally, SG has lower complication rates and a shorter operative time than other bariatric procedures [3, 4]. In this paper, we present a multimedia video of the management of a pancreatic leak after SG in a patient with multiple previous abdominal surgeries.

A 40-year-old female with a BMI of 36 kg/m² and obesity-related comorbidities presented to our clinic for bariatric surgery evaluation. The patient had a history of a motor vehicle accident requiring a splenectomy, a liver laceration requiring packing and reoperation with an open abdomen for more than a month. This was followed by a hernia repair with component separation. Preoperative workup was completed, including an upper endoscopy (EGD) that was negative for esophagitis. The computed tomography (CT) scan showed an area in the left upper quadrant with no bowel loops adherent to the abdominal wall, thus a safer area for accessing the abdominal cavity (Fig. 1). The SG itself was challenging due to severe adhesions. These adhesions were between the bowel and abdominal wall, bowel and bowel, stomach and liver, and posterior stomach and pancreas (video). Once adhesiolysis was completed, the stomach was tailored successfully without intraoperative complications. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 1 with stable vitals and laboratory exams while tolerating a liquid diet.

On postoperative day 2, the patient returned to the emergency department with abdominal pain, increased heart rate (120 per minute), and a white blood cell count (WBC) of 20,000 th/µL. The CT scan showed a left upper quadrant collection with no evidence of air or contrast extravasation from the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 2. The patient became unstable and did not respond adequately to resuscitation efforts. Due to the extensive dissection in the primary operation, we elected to perform a laparoscopic exploration on an urgent basis. A collection (dark fluid) was noted in the left upper quadrant, but no sleeve staple line leak was found even with the air leak test (Fig. 2). Drainage and wash out were completed, and 2 abdominal drains were placed. Although the patient had symptomatic improvement postoperatively, an EGD with fluoroscopy was repeated, and no leak was noted (Fig. 3). The fluid evaluation showed increased lipase suggesting the diagnosis of a pancreatic leak. A liquid diet was initiated, and the initial drain in the left upper quadrant was exchanged to a higher caliber one (16F 40 cm locking loop drain). The patient was stable and eventually discharged home on postoperative day 6. Eventually, the drains were draining less than 10 mL and then downsized and removed. The patient's weight loss journey continued afterward with no other complications at 10-month follow-up.

Pancreatic leak is a rare but potentially severe complication after SG, especially in the difficult abdomen.