Treatment of Leaks Following Sleeve Gastrectomy by Endoscopic Internal Drainage (EID)

BACKGROUND

Leaks are considered one of the major complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) with a reported rate up to 7 %. Drainage of the collection coupled with SEMS deployment is the most frequent treatment. Its success is variable and burdened by high morbidity and not irrelevant mortality. The aim of this paper is to suggest and establish a new approach by endoscopic internal drainage (EID) for the management of leaks.

METHODS

Since March 2013, 67 patients presenting leak following LSG were treated with deployment of double pigtail plastic stents across orifice leak, positioning one end inside the collection and the other end in remnant stomach. The aim of EID is to internally drain the collection and at the same time promote leak healing.

RESULTS

Double pigtails stent were successfully delivered in 66 out of 67 patients (98.5 %). Fifty patients were cured by EID after a mean time of 57.5 days and an average of 3.14 endoscopic sessions. Two died for event not related to EID. Nine are still under treatment; five failure had been registered. Six patients developed late stenosis treated endoscopically.

CONCLUSIONS

EID proved to be a valid, curative, and safe mini-invasive approach for treatment of leaks following SG. EID achieves complete drainage of perigastric collections and stimulates mucosal growth over the stent. EID is well tolerated, allows early re-alimentation, and it is burdened by fewer complications than others technique. Long-term follow-up confirms good outcomes with no motility or feeding alterations.

Endoscopic Internal Drainage with Enteral Nutrition (EDEN) for treatment of leaks following sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic treatment of gastric leaks (GL) following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) involves different techniques; however, standard management is not yet established. We report our experience about endoscopic internal drainage of leaks using pigtail stents coupled with enteral nutrition (EDEN) for 4 to 6 weeks until healing is achieved.

METHODS

In 21 pts (18 F, 41 years), one or two plastic pigtail stents were delivered across the leak 25.6 days (4-98) post-surgery. In all patients, nasojejunal tube was inserted. Check endoscopy was done at 4 to 6 weeks with either restenting if persistent leak, or removal if no extravasation of contrast in peritoneal cavity, or closure with an Over-the-Scope Clip® (OTSC®) if contrast opacifying the crossing stent without concomitant peritoneal extravasation.

RESULTS

Twenty-one out of 21 (100 %) patients underwent check endoscopy at average of 30.15 days (26-45) from stenting. In 7/21 (33.3 %) patients leak sealed, 2/7 needed OTSC®. Second check endoscopy, 26.7 days (25-42) later, showed sealed leak in 10 out 14; 6/10 had OTSC®. Four required restenting. One patient, 28 days later, needed OTSC®. One healed at 135 days and another 180 days after four and seven changes, respectively. One patient is currently under treatment. In 20/21 (95.2 %), GL have healed with EID treatment of 55.5 days (26- 180); all are asymptomatic on a normal diet at average follow-up of 150.3 days (20-276).

CONCLUSIONS

EDEN is a promising therapeutic approach for treating leaks following SG. Multiple endoscopic sessions may be required.