Management of Gastric Fistulas After Gastric Sleeve Using E-VAC Therapy

Background and Clinical Significance: Sleeve gastrectomy is an effective and widely performed bariatric procedure that provides long-term, sustained weight loss, but it carries risks of early and late complications. Among these, gastric fistula is a rare occurrence associated with an increased mortality rate and must be carefully considered to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate management. Case Presentation: We will present the complex case of a patient who was referred to the general surgery department due to severe abdominal pain, exertional dyspnea, nausea, fever and fatigue, symptoms that appeared one month after a robotic gastric sleeve. The investigations led to the diagnostic of high gastric fistula secondary to a gastric sleeve procedure. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with jejunostomy, peritoneal lavage, drainage, and endoscopic placement of an endoluminal vacuum assisted closure (E-VAC) system. Close clinical, laboratory, imaging, and endoscopic monitoring demonstrated progressive improvement, with complete resolution of the fistula achieved after seven weeks of E-VAC therapy. Conclusions: The particularity of this case lies in the occurrence of a delayed mechanical gastric suture dehiscence, with late diagnosis, managed using E-VAC. Even though rare, gastric fistulas represent a potentially life-threatening complication of sleeve gastrectomy. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach, which includes infection control, surgical intervention and minimally invasive techniques like E-VAC, are essential for effective management and favorable outcomes.