Management of Staple Line Leaks after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become one of the most popular bariatric surgeries in the United States with a low rate of morbidity and effective weight loss. However, staple line leak remains a feared complication requiring a lengthy and difficult treatment course until resolution. This study outlines the various treatment methods used within a high-volume bariatric practice for successful leak resolution without necessitating a conversion procedure.

A retrospective review was conducted on all patients with staple line leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in a three-surgeon bariatric practice from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019.

A total of 10 staple line leaks were identified with a leak rate of 0.9%. Patients presented on average 29.3 days postoperatively and were all diagnosed on computed tomography. Three patients were initially managed operatively with washout and drainage procedure. Six patients were managed endoscopically initially with either stent or over-the-scope clip placement. Most patients required multiple interventions with an average of 2.4 interventions per patient. Average time to leak resolution was 48.2 days (15-95 days).

Management of staple line leaks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy requires a multimodal approach usually requiring multiple interventions before leak resolution. We demonstrate effective utilization of varying interventions that lead to effective leak resolution and avoid conversion operations.