Extreme dilatation of the interposed jejunal pouch after proximal gastrectomy associated with portal venous gas: A case report

Impact of the Aboral Pouch in Roux-en-Y Reconstruction after Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Elderly Patients

Objectives

The number of elderly people with stomach cancer is increasing; therefore, minimally invasive surgical treatments are required. Elderly patients have multiple comorbidities and are prone to postoperative weight loss, nutritional disorders, Postgastrectomy syndrome (PGS), and decreased quality of life (QOL). Total gastrectomy is particularly associated with these complications, although aboral-pouch creation reportedly improves the condition by compensating for lost reservoir capacity. However, there is no consensus regarding its significance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the aboral pouch on total gastrectomy outcomes in elderly patients.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-six patients who met the eligibility criteria, defined as elderly patients aged ≥75 years, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients had undergone Roux-en-Y reconstructions with an aboral pouch in laparoscopic total gastrectomy procedures performed at Juntendo University from July 2016 to June 2022. The main outcomes were postoperative nutritional status, PGS, and QOL.

Results

The average postoperative period was approximately 1 year (12.0 vs. 13.5 months, P=0.536), for 14 elderly and 22 non-elderly patients, respectively. Elderly patients had more comorbidities (78.5% vs. 40.9%, P=0.041). The outcome of nutritional status demonstrated no differences in weight-loss rate (-5.3% vs. -8.6%, P=0.651) or prognostic nutritional status (-7.9% vs. -5.9%, P=0.243). There was no significant difference in PGS and QOL between elderly and non-elderly patients.

Conclusions

Total gastrectomy with an aboral-pouch creation could be beneficial for elderly 43 patients from the perspective of postoperative nutritional status, PGS, and QOL.

[Jejunojejunostomy by Interventional Endosonography (EUS) using "Lumen-apposing Metal Stent" (LAMS) in a Case of Obstructed Jejunal Loop after Former Gastrectomy: Video-Paper on a Typical Case]

Einführung Um die Reservoirfunktion des Magens zu ersetzen und ein Postgastrektomiesyndrom zu vermeiden, wird nach einer Gastrektomie nicht selten ein jejunaler Pouch als Teil der Roux-en-Y-Ösophagojejunostomie zur anatomischen Resektion im oberen Gastrointestinaltrakt gebildet. Eine Abflussstenose mit Pouchdilatation, die mit konsekutiven abdominellen Beschwerden einhergeht, ist eine mögliche Spätkomplikation. Eine konservative Therapie bleibt oft ohne dauerhaften Erfolg, was meist eine operative Sanierung erforderlich macht. Eine endosonografisch geführte Jejunojejunostomie mit „Lumen-apposing Metal Stent“ (LAMS) ist dahingehend eine neue vielversprechende Therapieoption.

Fallpräsentation Bei einer 75-jährigen Patientin mit jejunalem Pouch nach vorheriger Gastrektomie wegen Magenkarzinoms (pT1b N1 [1/40] M0 L1 V1 G2 R0) traten seit Jahren wiederholt Beschwerden wie Erbrechen, postprandiale Bauchschmerzen und Krämpfe bei einer Abflussstörung des jejunalen Pouches mit einer konsekutiven Pouchdilatation auf. Konservative Therapie und Platzierung eines intestinalen Stents im stenotischen Abgang des abführenden Jejunalschenkels blieben ohne Erfolg. Es wurde eine endosonografisch geführte (EUS-geführte) Jejunojejunostomie mittels Hot-AXIOS-Stent-Platzierung (Boston Scientific, Ratingen, Deutschland) vom Pouchlumen aus zu einem aboralen Segment der hochgezogenen Jejunalschlinge angelegt. Seitdem (Follow-up: 12 Monate) war die Patientin dauerhaft beschwerdefrei mit konsekutiver Gewichtszunahme.

Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung Die Jejunojejunostomie mit EUS-geführter Einlage eines „LAMS“ bietet eine Alternative zu einer operativen Sanierung bei Stenose und Passageproblemen des jejunalen Pouches. Sie ist mit einer weit geringeren Invasivität, zügigeren Rekonvaleszenz und damit entscheidend verbesserter Lebensqualität verbunden.

Introduction In order to adequately replace the reservoir of the stomach and to avoid a post-gastrectomy syndrome, the anatomy of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract is reconstructed after gastrectomy – creating a jejunal pouch as part of Roux-en-Y oesophagojejunostomy. Stenosis of the efferent loop with pouch dilatation associated with subsequent abdominal discomfort and complaints can be considered a possible late complication. A conservative therapeutic approach is often unsuccessful and subsequent surgical intervention is necessary. Creation of an endosonography-guided jejunojejunostomy with a “lumen-apposing metal stent” (LAMS) is a novel and promising therapeutic option.

Case Presentation In a 75-years old woman with jejunal pouch after previous gastrectomy due to gastric cancer (pT1b N1 [1/40] M0 L1 V1 G2 R0), there had been recurrent complaints for years, such as vomiting, abdominal discomfort and postprandial pain as well as spasms because of disturbed GI passage via the efferent loop with consecutive pouch dilatation. Conservative measures and placement of an intestinal stent within the stenotic segment of the efferent jejunal loop did not result in permanent improvement. Therefore, endosonography-guided (EUS-guided) jejunojejunostomy was performed with a Hot-AXIOS stent (Boston Scientific, Ratingen, Germany) from the endoluminal site of the pouch to an aboral segment of the jejunal loop. At the 12-month follow-up, patient was permanently asymptomatic with resulting increase in body weight.

Discussion and Conclusion Jejunojejunostomy with EUS-guided implantation of an “LAMS” can be considered an alternative approach to surgery to solve problems with a strictured jejunal pouch due to disturbed GI passage. This is associated with far less invasiveness and traumatisation, prompt convalescence and, thus, substantially improved quality of life.