Percutaneous transhepatic duodenal drainage as an alternative approach in afferent loop obstruction with secondary obstructive jaundice in recurrent gastric cancer

Percutaneous transhepatic duodenal drainage is good option for afferent loop syndrome for obstructive colorectal cancer patient with history of Billroth's operation II: A case report of a rare postoperative complication

Key Clinical Message

Temporal percutaneous transhepatic duodenum drainage (PTDD) seems to be effective in the treatment of postoperative afferent loop syndrome (ALS) following transverse loop colostomy for obstructive colorectal cancer.

Abstract

Management of obstructive colorectal cancer still remains a challenge. There are various options with different risks of mortality and mobility for obstructive colorectal cancer. A rare unexpected postoperative ALS following a low anterior resection and transverse loop colostomy for obstructive colorectal cancer is presented in this report. A 64-year-old man had the acute ALS had been noted 10 days after transverse loop colostomy. An option was temporal PTDD treatment in the patient with history of Billroth's operation II for upper gastrointestinal bleeding 30 years ago. Acute ALS was treated by temporal PTDD. The drainage tube for PTDD was not removed until closure of the transverse colostomy 2 months later. The patient recovered uneventfully. Acute ALS after transverse loop colostomy for obstructive colorectal cancer is rare and has never been reported in the literature. The mechanism of acute ALS after construction of a loop colostomy and the treatment strategy of PTDD for acute ALS is presented.

An Unusual Presentation of Obstructive Jaundice Due to Dilated Proximal Small Bowel Loops After Gastrojejunostomy: Afferent Loop Syndrome

Afferent loop syndrome is reported to be one of the very rare complications after gastrojejunostomy. The usual presentation in patients is with abdominal pain, distension and vomiting. It may present acutely because of complete obstruction, usually occurs early after surgery and is lethal in its course unless treated promptly with surgical management. In chronic cases obstruction is intermittent. There may be a reflux of bowel material into the biliary system and because of bacterial overgrowth patient may present with ascending cholangitis and obstructive jaundice. Here we report a case of 43-year-old gentleman presenting with jaundice, diffuse abdominal pain and distension. Later on, he was found to have a recurrence of gastric carcinoma associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis after subtotal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy for gastric carcinoma one year ago. He was diagnosed to be a case of afferent loop syndrome presenting as obstructive jaundice. The patient was managed conservatively by endoscopic decompression after confirmation of the diagnosis of afferent loop syndrome. 

Clinical management for malignant afferent loop obstruction

Afferent loop obstruction (ALO) is defined as duodenal or jejunal mechanical obstruction at the proximal anastomosis site of a gastrojejunostomy. With advances in chemotherapy, the incidence of malignant ALO is increasing. Malignant ALO can be complicated by ischemia, gangrenous bowel, pancreatitis, and ascending cholangitis. Moreover, the general condition of patients with recurrent cancer is often poor. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnosis and minimally invasive treatments are required. However, no review articles on the diagnosis and treatment of malignant ALO have been published. Through literature searching, we reviewed related articles published between 1959 and 2020 in the PubMed database. Herein, we present recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant ALO and describe future perspectives. Endoscopic transluminal self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement is considered the standard treatment for malignant ALO, as this procedure is well established and less invasive. However, with the development of interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in recent years, the usefulness of EUS-guided gastrojejunostomy has been reported. Moreover, through indirect comparison, this approach has been reported to be superior to transluminal SEMS placement. It is expected that a safer and less invasive treatment method will be established through the continued advancement and innovation of interventional endoscopy techniques.

Endoscopic nasogastric tube insertion for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A 16-year retrospective single-center study

Afferent loop obstruction is an uncommon complication associated with Billroth-II distal gastrectomy. Inappropriate treatment may result in life-threatening events as perforation and peritonitis. For the benign afferent loop obstruction, Braun or Roux-en-Y reconstruction has been reported as the choice. However, the edematous afferent loop may result in anastomotic fistula. In this study, a less invasive technique was described for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic nasogastric tube insertion for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction.We conducted a retrospective review of the data of 2548 gastric cancer patients who underwent distal gastrectomy from January 2002 to January 2018. Patients who developed benign afferent loop obstruction were treated by this procedure. Outcomes were recorded. Follow-up was scheduled at 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment.Twenty-six patients (1.0%) developed afferent loop obstruction. The median age, consisting of 19 men and 7 women, was 60 years (range 36-69 years). Of these 26 patients, 23 underwent the endoscopic treatment. The obstructive symptoms had a rapid relief in all the 23 patients. No one died due to this procedure. However, 2 patients underwent surgical treatment due to intestinal obstruction because of adhesion at >4 and 7 months after the endoscopic drainage, respectively.Endoscopic nasogastric tube insertion is an effective and safe procedure for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction. In addition, it could be considered as the first step in treatment, especially in high-surgical-risk patients.

Afferent Loop Syndrome After Subtotal Gastrectomy With Billroth-II Reconstruction: Etiology and Treatment

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of afferent loop syndrome (ALS) following radical subtotal gastrectomy with B-II reconstruction in gastric cancer patients. ALS is an infrequent mechanical complication, which occurs after reconstruction of Billroth-II (B-II) gastrojejunostomy or Roux-en-Y esophagojejunosotomy. From 2002 through 2010, 672 patients who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy with B-II reconstruction for gastric cancer were enrolled. Clinical data, symptom interval, cause, and treatment of 13 ALS patients were reviewed. The body mass index (BMI) of patients who suffered ALS was significantly less than that of patients who did not (P = 0.0244). And, there were significant differences in rates of recurrence (P = 0.0032) and follow-up duration (P = 0.0119) between the two groups. Acute ALS within 1 month occurred in 5 patients (38.5%). Obstructive jaundice or acute pancreatitis occurred in 4 patients (30.1%). The most frequent cause was anastomosis inflammation (6 patients). Only 2 patients required surgery. Most patients with ALS were treated conservatively with or without percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Clinical suspicion is of significant importance because ALS is not common and the symptoms are nonspecific. ALS occurs more frequently in low BMI patients than high. PTBD can be considered as a primary treatment option for ALS if rupture of the afferent loop is not present.

Endoscopic metal enteral stent placement for malignant afferent loop syndrome after pancreaticoduodenectomy

INTRODUCTION

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is a rare and dreaded complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Malignant ALS after PD is usually difficult to manage due to patients' poor condition. Effective and safe therapeutic strategies for these patients are reported scarcely at present.

AIM

To analyze and evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment of these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed 3 patients with malignant ALS after PD. They were treated by endoscopic enteral metal stent placement in our hospital. Meanwhile we retrospectively reviewed 49 cases with ALS after PD through available English literature. All these patients' clinical features, laboratory study, treatment and outcome were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 52 cases were analyzed in the study. The most common presenting symptoms of ALS after PD were jaundice (56.5%), upper abdominal pain (45.7%), fever (26.1%), and vomiting (23.9%). Sixty percent of ALS cases were caused by tumor recurrence. The mean time from prior surgery to diagnosis of ALS was 13.3 months. The rates of treatment with the endoscopic approach, percutaneous stenting or drainage, surgery, and the conservative method were 40.4%, 32.7%, 11.5%, and 15.4%, respectively. Endoscopic enteral metal stent placement proved more effective and less invasive in the treatment of malignant ALS after PD.

CONCLUSIONS

Cholangitis and cholangiectasis are the major manifestations of malignant ALS after PD. Invasive interventions are enjoying more and more acceptance for treatment. Endoscopic enteral metal stent placement appears to be a promising technique with effective palliation in these patients.

Role of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with complications after gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of PTBD in patients with DSL and ALS post-gastrectomy for malignancy or benign ulcer perforation.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is an interventional radiologic procedure used to promote bile drainage. Duodenal stump leakage (DSL) and afferent loop syndrome (ALS) can be serious complications after gastrectomy.

METHODS

From January 2002 through December 2014, we retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who underwent PTBD secondary to DSL and ALS post-gastrectomy. In this study, a PTBD tube was placed in the proximal duodenum near the stump or distal duodenum in order to decompress and drain bile and pancreatic fluids.

RESULTS

Nine patients with DSL and 10 patients with ALS underwent PTBD. The mean hospital stay was 34.3 days (range, 12-71) in DSL group and 16.4 days (range, 6-48) in ALS group after PTBD. A liquid or soft diet was started within 2.6 days (range, 1-7) in the ALS group and within 3.4 days (range, 0-15) in the DSL group after PTBD. One patient with DSL had PTBD changed, and 2 patients with ALS underwent additional surgical interventions after PTBD.

CONCLUSIONS

The PTBD procedure, during which the tube was inserted into the duodenum, was well-suited for decompression of the duodenum as well as for drainage of bile and pancreatic fluids. This procedure can be an alternative treatment for cases of DSL and ALS post-gastrectomy.

Effectiveness of endoscopic self-expandable metal stent placement for afferent loop obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Afferent loop obstruction caused by cancer recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) can be managed by either surgical or nonsurgical treatment. The general condition of patients with recurrent pancreaticobiliary cancer is often not good enough for them to undergo surgery, so less invasive nonsurgical treatment is desirable. We report a case of a 66-year-old male who had undergone PD for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma 10 months previously and who presented at our hospital with fever and jaundice due to afferent loop obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer recurrence. An endoscopic self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) was placed for afferent loop obstruction without any complications. He quickly recovered after SEMS placement. He retained a good quality of life by receiving chemotherapy until his death due to cancer progression. Our case indicates that this method could be an easy, effective, safe, and less invasive treatment, which may confer a better quality of life for patients with afferent loop obstruction due to cancer recurrence after PD.

Percutaneous drainage for afferent limb syndrome and pancreatic fistula via the blind end of the jejunal limb after pancreatoduodenectomy or bile duct resection

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of percutaneous drainage via the blind end of the jejunal limb (BEJL) for afferent limb syndrome and pancreatic fistula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Percutaneous drainage via the BEJL was performed in eight patients (seven men and one woman; mean age, 63 y; range, 42-71 y) presenting with afferent limb syndrome (n = 6) or pancreatic fistula (n = 2) following pancreatoduodenectomy or bile duct resection with reconstruction at our institute from March 2005 to June 2013. Reconstruction was performed by using a modified Child method or the Roux-en-Y method, and the BEJL was surgically fixed to the abdominal wall. Afferent limb syndrome was caused by tumor recurrence or postoperative complications. Technical success, clinical success, and complications were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Technical success of drainage via BEJL was achieved in all patients. Drainage catheters (5-10 F) were inserted into the afferent limbs of six patients, into the pancreatic duct of one patient, and into the pancreatic fistula of one patient. Metallic stents were subsequently placed to address malignant afferent limb obstruction in two patients. Clinical success was achieved in seven patients (87.5%), and no patients developed major complications. Drainage catheters were removed from four patients. The mean catheter indwelling period in all patients was 143 days (range, 21-292 d).

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous drainage via BEJL after pancreatoduodenectomy or bile duct resection may be a feasible treatment for afferent limb syndrome and pancreatic fistula.

Percutaneous jejunostomy through the liver parenchyma for palliation of afferent loop syndrome

In the treatment of afferent loop syndrome, jejunostomy or Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy have tended to represent the preferred procedures. In patients who are not good candidates for surgery, palliative treatment-i.e., percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage or percutaneous direct transperitoneal jejunostomy techniques-have been applied. Transhepatic biliary drainage confers a risk of ascending cholangitis. Direct percutaneous transperitoneal drainage may be impractical when overlying bowel loops prevent access to deeply located afferent loops. In the present case, percutaneous jejunostomy through the liver parenchyma was performed successfully for palliation of afferent loop syndrome.

Enterolith causing acute afferent loop syndrome after Billroth II gastrectomy: a case report

Enterolith is a rare cause of afferent loop obstruction following Billroth II gastrectomy. We report a case of acute afferent loop syndrome (ALS) due to a huge enterolith, necessitating prompt surgery. The clinical pattern may mimic acute cholangitis and/or pancreatitis. Delayed diagnosis may result in severe complications such as bowel ischemia or perforation. Only 14 reported cases of enterolith causing afferent loop obstruction were found in the English literature.

Percutaneous transhepatic metallic stent insertion for malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy is a rare complication and may be fatal if suppurative cholangitis or obstructive jaundice develops. Effective and safe therapeutic strategies for malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy are scarce at present.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 51-year-old Japanese man underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the papilla of Vater. Seven months postoperatively, he developed a high-grade fever, jaundice, and right upper abdominal pain. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed afferent loop obstruction and intrahepatic bile duct dilatation due to nodal recurrence. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed, and a self-expanding metallic stent (WallFlex™ duodenal stent) was placed across the stricture using the transhepatic route.

CONCLUSIONS

There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments for malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Nonsurgical treatments include either an endoscopic or percutaneous approach to the afferent loop. Of these methods, percutaneous transhepatic insertion of a self-expanding metallic stent is the preferred treatment for malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy because it is more prompt and less invasive.

[A case of afferent loop syndrome with acute cholangitis developed after percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy for treatment of choledocholithiasis in a patient who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy]

Afferent loop syndrome is a rare complication which can occur in patients with Billroth II gastrectomy. Bile and pancreatic juice is congested at afferent loop in the syndrome. This syndrome can progress rapidly to necrosis, perforation, or severe sepsis, and therefore early diagnosis and swift surgical intervention is important. But, cases of endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic drainage have been reported when surgical management was inappropriate to proceed. We report a case of afferent loop syndrome accompanying acute cholangitis developed after percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy for the retrieval of common bile duct stone in a patient who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy due to early gastric cancer. There was no other organic cause. We treated afferent loop syndrome successfully by performing balloon dilation of afferent loop outlet.

Endoscopic management of afferent loop syndrome after a pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenecotomy presenting with obstructive jaundice and ascending cholangitis

Afferent loop syndrome is a rare complication of gastrojejunostomy. Patients usually present with abdominal distention and bilious avomiting. Afferent loop syndrome in patients who have undergone a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy can present with ascending cholangitis. This condition is related to a large volume of reflux through the biliary-enteric anastomosis and static materials with bacterial overgrowth in the afferent loop. Patients with afferent loop syndrome after pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy frequently cannot be confirmed as surgical candidates due to poor medical condition. In that situation, a non-surgical palliation should be considered. Herein, we report two patients with afferent loop syndrome presenting with obstructive jaundice and ascending cholangitis. The patients suffered from the recurrence of pancreatic cancer after pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. The diagnosis of afferent loop syndrome was confirmed, and the patients were successfully treated by inserting an endoscopic metal stent using a colonoscopic endoscope.

Percutaneous transhepatic placement of covered, self-expandable nitinol stent for the relief of afferent loop syndrome: report of two cases

The author reports successful outcomes after percutaneous transhepatic placement of covered, self-expandable nitinol stents in two patients who had afferent loop syndrome caused by recurrent gastric carcinoma. A 46-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy (Billroth II) were both admitted with symptoms of afferent loop syndrome. In each patient, enhanced abdominal computed tomography showed marked dilation of the jejunal limb and intrahepatic bile ducts incident to recurrent gastric carcinoma. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was successfully performed, and a multi-sidehole drainage catheter was placed beyond the papilla of Vater. Successful palliation of the afferent loop obstruction was achieved by placing a covered, self-expandable nitinol stent through the transhepatic biliary drainage route. There were no procedure-related complications, and both patients showed clinical improvement.

Malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy: report of two cases

We report two cases of malignant afferent loop obstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Case 1. A 70-year-old woman, who had undergone PD for pancreatic cancer, was referred to our hospital because of fever, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography demonstrated dilatation of a small bowel loop in the right upper quadrant. Laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis of local recurrent tumor causing occlusion of the afferent limb, and Roux-en-Y bypass was performed. Case 2. A 72-year-old man, who had undergone PD for cancer of the major papilla, was hospitalized with a high-grade fever and epigastric pain. Ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography revealed a dilated afferent loop and multiple masses in liver. At laparotomy, widespread carcinomatosis was found to have caused afferent loop obstruction, and surgical bypass was performed. In conclusion, the surgical bypass seems to be an effective palliative treatment for afferent loop syndrome after PD.

Transhepatic placement of an enteral stent to treat jaundice in a tumor recurrence obstructed afferent loop after a whipple procedure

Tumour recurrence that obstructs the afferent limb, blocking outflow of bile and pancreatic juice, constitutes a major clinical problem after a Whipple procedure. The endoscopic route is often not a possible alternative. Surgery may be difficult and perhaps dangerous to the often very sick patient and decompression with fine bore catheters may lead to cholangitis. External drainage is inconvenient to the patient. The present case describes a less invasive method to provide adequate drainage of the obstructed jejunal limb by insertion of a 22-mm enteral Wallstent transhepatically. The patient became and stayed anicteric during 7 months' follow-up.

Palliative percutaneous tube enterostomy in afferent-loop syndrome presenting as jaundice: clinical effectiveness

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous tube enterostomy in afferent loop syndrome presenting as jaundice. Tube enterostomy was successfully performed in seven patients without procedural complications. The serum bilirubin level normalized in five patients but remained elevated in the other two, presumably related to more proximal bile duct obstruction. Percutaneous tube enterostomy is an effective palliative treatment in afferent loop syndrome presenting as an obstructing jaundice. However, coexisting biliary obstruction might be problematic for relieving jaundice with tube enterostomy.

Non-surgical treatment for afferent loop syndrome in recurrent gastric cancer complicated by peritoneal carcinomatosis: percutaneous transhepatic duodenal drainage followed by 24-hour infusion of high-dose fluorouracil and leucovorin

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is a debilitating complication of recurrent gastric cancer. Surgical intervention is usually not feasible in the face of poor general performance, presence of advanced peritoneal carcinomatosis and limited survival of the patients. Non-surgical approaches include internal drainage by stenting at the stenotic or anastomotic site and external drainage via the percutaneous routes. Percutaneous transhepatic duodenal drainage (PTDD) has been shown to provide effective palliation for ALS, but long-term catheterization is usually inevitable. We hereby present two cases of recurrent gastric cancer whose ALS was successfully treated with PTDD followed by weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (HDFL). PTDD rapidly ameliorated the incapacitating symptoms of ALS, and the effective, low-toxicity chemotherapy subsequently led to tumor regression, restoration of bowel patency and removal of the drainage tube. At present, both patients have remained ALS-free and drainage-free for 16 and 17 months, respectively. Our results indicate that this non-surgical approach with PTDD followed by weekly HDFL could serve as a safe and effective treatment for ALS in recurrent gastric cancer complicated by peritoneal carcinomatosis.