Anastomotic leaks after roux-en Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity

Background: Obesity is a severe disease whose prevalence continues to increase. Resective gastric bypass is one of the surgical procedures used in our center in patients with obesity, but like other techniques is not without complications, and the leak is one of the most serious. Aim: To determine by a prospective study the incidence, clinical presentation, postoperative course and treatment of obese patients with leaks after open resective gastric bypass. Material and Methods: From August 1999 to December 2009, 900 morbidly obese patients underwent open resective Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at the Hospital of the University of Chile. The use of drains and leak test with methylene blue during surgery, such as barium x-ray were performed in all patients as part of a protocol. Clinical signs, development, testing and treatment were recorded. Results: 36 patients (4%) developed leaks. Of the 900 patients died 3 (0.33%). Fever and tachycardia were the predominant symptoms. The diagnosis was made by imaging studies in 19 cases (52.7%). The leaks were mostly between 5 th and 9 th postoperative day. The most frequent location of the leak was at the gastrojejunal anastomosis (58.3%). Treatment was medical in 24 patients (66.7%), requiring re-operation only in 12 cases. The average time of closure of the leak was 35.5 days and the patients were hospitalized a total of 33.7 days on average. Conclusions: In the series studied after resective gastric bypass the leak is presented in 4% of patients. Fever and tachycardia are useful signs to suspect a leak. The early detection of leaks is determinant to reach the best evolution of the patient and success in the treatment