Types of Postgastrctomy Efferent Loop Obstruction and its Management

Kim, Wan Soo; Oh, Sung Tae; Hwang, Shin; Yook, Jeong Hwan; Kim, Byung Sik; Park, Kun Choon

Abstract

The authors have experienced 9 cases of postgastrectomy efferent loop obstruction during the past 16 months' period and analyzed the clinical features, radiological findings, causes, and types of obstruction. The incidence of efferent loop obstruction was 1.3%(9/673). Among the 9 cases, eight patients were male and one patient was female. Median age was 60 years and more than half(5 out of 9 cases) of the patients were obese(defined by more than 110% of ideal body weight). None of the cases showed signs of strangulation, including persistent pain, fever, focal abdominal tenderness, and/or leukocytosis. Gastrointestinal anastomoses were done using a GIA stapler in 6 cases, and manually in 3 cases. The diagnoses were made on the basis of clinical symptoms and signs, further supported by radiologic contrast studies. All the patients were initially treated with conservative measures, including nasogastric drainage and fluid therapy for about 2 weeks in average. 7 cases underwent re-laparotomy using separate left subcostal incisions as conservative management had failed. Among the relaparotomy cases, adhesiolysis and side to side jejunojejunostomy were performed in 5 patients, Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy in 1 patient, and gastrojejunostomy revision in 1 patient. Causes of the obstruction in the seven re-opened cases were confirmed as postoperative adhesion. The authors have analyzed the pattern of obstruction and classified the patterns into 4 types. One of the remaining two patients underwent balloon dilatation successfully and the other was managed with prolonged nasogastric decompression. The average hospital stay was 32 days. Adequate omentectomy, gentle tissue handling during dissection, avoidance of ischemia along the suture line of anastomosis, and the use of biologically inert suture material would prevent this kind of postoperative adhesive obstruction.