Skip to main content

Internal Hernia and Small Bowel Obstruction After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Complications in Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Gastric bypass (RYGB) is considered the gold standard for bariatric surgical procedures. Small bowel obstruction (SBO) after gastric bypass is not uncommon; the internal hernia is the most common etiology followed by adhesions.

Internal hernia can be life-threatening; hence, it is crucial to diagnose and treat it early. Diagnosis can really be challenging, and it entails using different imaging techniques, as well as physical exam.

The management of internal hernia after RYGB remains surgical. The urgency of surgical intervention relies on the clinical condition of the patient. A diagnostic laparoscopy is indicated if clinical suspicion is high enough. An attempt at the time of original operation to reduce these potential complications is important. Closure of peritoneal and mesenteric defects and antecolic positioning of the Roux limb seem to decrease the percentage of internal hernia and other causes of SBO.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Brethauer SA, Kim J, El Chaar M, Papasavas P, Eisenberg D, Rogers A, Ballem N, Kligman M, Kothari S, Committee ACI. Standardized outcomes reporting in metabolic and bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2015;25(4):587–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Obeid A, McNeal S, Breland M, Stahl R, Clements RH, Grams J. Internal hernia after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. J Gastrointest Surg. 2014;18(2):250–5. discussion 255–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Koppman JS, Li C, Gandsas A. Small bowel obstruction after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a review of 9,527 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2008;206(3):571–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Husain S, Ahmed AR, Johnson J, Boss T, O’Malley W. Small-bowel obstruction after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: etiology, diagnosis, and management. Arch Surg. 2007;142(10):988–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Green J, Ikuine T, Hacker S, Urrego H, Tuggle K. Acute small bowel obstruction due to a large intraluminal blood clot after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. J Surg Case Rep. 2016;2016(8):rjw143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Daellenbach L, Suter M. Jejunojejunal intussusception after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a review. Obes Surg. 2011;21(2):253–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hwang RF, Swartz DE, Felix EL. Causes of small bowel obstruction after laparoscopic gastric bypass. Surg Endosc. 2004;18(11):1631–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sarhan M, Shyamali B, Fakulujo A, Ahmed L. Jejunal Bezoar causing obstruction after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. JSLS. 2010;14(4):592–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Garza E Jr, Kuhn J, Arnold D, Nicholson W, Reddy S, McCarty T. Internal hernias after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Am J Surg. 2004;188(6):796–800.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Champion JK, Williams M. Small bowel obstruction and internal hernias after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2003;13(4):596–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Elms L, Moon RC, Varnadore S, Teixeira AF, Jawad MA. Causes of small bowel obstruction after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a review of 2,395 cases at a single institution. Surg Endosc. 2014;28(5):1624–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Schauer PR, Ikramuddin S, Hamad G, Eid GM, Mattar S, Cottam D, Ramanathan R, Gourash W. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery: current technique. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2003;13(4):229–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Brolin RE, Kella VN. Impact of complete mesenteric closure on small bowel obstruction and internal mesenteric hernia after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2013;9(6):850–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bauman RW, Pirrello JR. Internal hernia at Petersen's space after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 6.2% incidence without closure – a single surgeon series of 1047 cases. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2009;5(5):565–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Schneider C, Cobb W, Scott J, Carbonell A, Myers K, Bour E. Rapid excess weight loss following laparoscopic gastric bypass leads to increased risk of internal hernia. Surg Endosc. 2011;25(5):1594–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Blachar A, Federle MP. Internal hernia: an increasingly common cause of small bowel obstruction. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2002;23(2):174–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Faria G, Preto J, Oliveira M, Pimenta T, Baptista M, Costa-Maia J. Petersen’s space hernia: a rare but expanding diagnosis. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2011;2(6):141–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Higa KD, Ho T, Boone KB. Internal hernias after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: incidence, treatment and prevention. Obes Surg. 2003;13(3):350–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Paroz A, Calmes JM, Romy S, Giusti V, Suter M. A new type of internal hernia after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2009;19(4):527–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Marinis A, Yiallourou A, Samanides L, Dafnios N, Anastasopoulos G, Vassiliou I, Theodosopoulos T. Intussusception of the bowel in adults: a review. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(4):407–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Filip JE, Mattar SG, Bowers SP, Smith CD. Internal hernia formation after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Am Surg. 2002;68(7):640–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Spector D, Perry Z, Shah S, Kim JJ, Tarnoff ME, Shikora SA. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: hyperamylasemia is associated with small bowel obstruction. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015;11(1):38–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lockhart ME, Tessler FN, Canon CL, Smith JK, Larrison MC, Fineberg NS, Roy BP, Clements RH. Internal hernia after gastric bypass: sensitivity and specificity of seven CT signs with surgical correlation and controls. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007;188(3):745–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ahmed AR, Rickards G, Johnson J, Boss T, O'Malley W. Radiological findings in symptomatic internal hernias after laparoscopic gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2009;19(11):1530–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kawkabani Marchini A, Denys A, Paroz A, Romy S, Suter M, Desmartines N, Meuli R, Schmidt S. The four different types of internal hernia occurring after laparascopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass performed for morbid obesity: are there any multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features permitting their distinction? Obes Surg. 2011;21(4):506–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Onopchenko A. Radiological diagnosis of internal hernia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2005;15(5):606–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Iannuccilli JD, Grand D, Murphy BL, Evangelista P, Roye GD, Mayo-Smith W. Sensitivity and specificity of eight CT signs in the preoperative diagnosis of internal mesenteric hernia following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Clin Radiol. 2009;64(4):373–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Altieri MS, Pryor AD, Telem DA, Hall K, Brathwaite C, Zawin M. Algorithmic approach to utilization of CT scans for detection of internal hernia in the gastric bypass patient. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015;11(6):1207–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Gandhi AD, Patel RA, Brolin RE. Elective laparoscopy for herald symptoms of mesenteric/internal hernia after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2009;5(2):144–9. discussion 149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Dorsey ST, Harrington ET, Iv WF, Emerman CL. Ileus and small bowel obstruction in an emergency department observation unit: are there outcome predictors? West J Emerg Med. 2011;12(4):404–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Higa KD, Boone KB, Ho T. Complications of the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 1,040 patients – what have we learned? Obes Surg. 2000;10(6):509–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Van Dinter TG, Jr, John L, Guileyardo JM, John SF. Intestinal perforation caused by insertion of a nasogastric tube late after gastric bypass. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2013;26(1):11–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hanson RL. Predictive criteria for length of nasogastric tube insertion for tube feeding. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1979;3(3):160–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Byrne TK. Complications of surgery for obesity. Surg Clin North Am. 2001;81(5):1181–93. vii–viii

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Aghajani E, Jacobsen HJ, Nergaard BJ, Hedenbro JL, Leifson BG, Gislason H. Internal hernia after gastric bypass: a new and simplified technique for laparoscopic primary closure of the mesenteric defects. J Gastrointest Surg. 2012;16(3):641–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. O'Rourke RW. Management strategies for internal hernia after gastric bypass. J Gastrointest Surg. 2011;15(6):1049–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Escalona A, Devaud N, Perez G, Crovari F, Boza C, Viviani P, Ibanez L, Guzman S. Antecolic versus retrocolic alimentary limb in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a comparative study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007;3(4):423–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Nandipati KC, Lin E, Husain F, Srinivasan J, Sweeney JF, Davis SS. Counterclockwise rotation of Roux-en-Y limb significantly reduces internal herniation in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). J Gastrointest Surg. 2012;16(4):675–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Ortega J, Cassinello N, Sanchez-Antunez D, Sebastian C, Martinez-Soriano F. Anatomical basis for the low incidence of internal hernia after a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass without mesenteric closure. Obes Surg. 2013;23(8):1273–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Cho M, Pinto D, Carrodeguas L, Lascano C, Soto F, Whipple O, Simpfendorfer C, Gonzalvo JP, Zundel N, Szomstein S, Rosenthal RJ. Frequency and management of internal hernias after laparoscopic antecolic antegastric Roux-en-Y gastric bypass without division of the small bowel mesentery or closure of mesenteric defects: review of 1400 consecutive cases. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2006;2(2):87–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Iannelli A, Buratti MS, Novellas S, Dahman M, Amor IB, Sejor E, Facchiano E, Addeo P, Gugenheim J. Internal hernia as a complication of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2007;17(10):1283–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Madan AK, Lo Menzo E, Dhawan N, Tichansky DS. Internal hernias and nonclosure of mesenteric defects during laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2009;19(5):549–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Alhaj Saleh, A., Abbas, M. (2018). Internal Hernia and Small Bowel Obstruction After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. In: Camacho, D., Zundel, N. (eds) Complications in Bariatric Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75841-1_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75841-1_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75840-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-75841-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics