Management of acute intra-abdominal sepsis caused by leakage after one anastomosis gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Leakage after one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is fortunately rare (<1%), but it remains the most severe complication. Few published data exist on this specific issue.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the results from patients who presented with acute intra-abdominal sepsis (AIAS) caused by leakage after OAGB.

SETTING: A university public hospital in France.

METHODS: Between October 2006 and February 2016, 17 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of AIAS caused by leakage after OAGB were included. Preoperative characteristics, clinical symptoms, radiologic findings, management, morbidity, and mortality were assessed.

RESULTS: All 17 patients were included in the study. There were 4 men (23.5%), the median age was 48 years, and median preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 51 kg/m2 . The most frequent clinical sign was tachycardia (65%). An oral contrast computed tomography scan was performed in 15 patients (88%) and showed a diagnosis of AIAS in 93% of cases. The median time between OAGB and leak diagnosis was 4 days. A gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA) leak was the most frequent origin (41%). Sixteen patients (94%) were managed surgically (laparotomy n = 11, laparoscopy n = 5) and one medically. There were no deaths. The overall morbidity rate was 47% (major = 41%). Six patients underwent an emergency conversion into Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (in cases of GJA, gastric-tube, and biliary-limb leakages) and were compared to 6 patients who did not undergo conversion but who could have benefited. We observed a tendency toward a reduced overall morbidity rate (16.7% versus 83.3%, P = .08) and shorter lengths of stay in the "conversion to RYGB" group.

CONCLUSION: The management of AIAS caused by leakage after OAGB was safe, effective, and mostly surgical. Emergency conversion to RYGB in cases of GJA, gastric-tube, or biliary-limb perforation was feasible and safe.