Bariatric/Metabolic surgery for the radiologist: Clinical insight, normal post-operative imaging and imaging of complications

Leak is one of the most feared complications, occurring in up to 6% of patients,^6,7,8 with the potential to rapidly progress to sepsis and death. Delayed diagnosis is associated with high mortality.^9,10 Most leaks occur at the GJ anastomosis; other potential sites of leak are the gastric pouch, blind jejunal stump, excluded stomach and the jejuno-jejunal (JJ) anastomosis.^6,10,11 Tachycardia, with heart rate > 120 bpm, is the earliest and most reliable clinical sign of a leak.^4,10 Some centers perform a routine upper GI exam with water-soluble contrast 1 to 2 days following surgery to exclude an early leak, though leaks from the bypassed portion of the stomach cannot be ordinarily diagnosed with GI series and JJ anastomotic leaks may be difficult to demonstrate.² As a result, even if the GI series is negative, a high index of suspicion for leak may result in surgical exploration.^10,12 Radiographically, a leak is detected when extraluminal contrast is identified in a track (Figure 3), collection, free in the peritoneal cavity and/or in a drain. Leaks are classified chronologically as: early (1 to 3 days), intermediate (4 to 7 days) and late (> 8 days). Clinically, leaks are classified as: (a) Type I - contained, with no dissemination or fistulae to abdominal or pleural cavities or lack of contrast material in the drain, and (b) Type II - disseminated to the abdominal or pleural cavities, and/or with appearance of contrast material in the drain. CT scan can show intra-abdominal fluid, pneumoperitoneum, extraluminal contrast, abscess, and/or inflammatory changes suggestive of a leak.² Most leaks require surgical exploration, closure of the site of leakage, washout of the abdominal cavity, and placement of a drain and an enteral feeding tube. In some cases, contained leaks may be treated successfully with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics.²

A gastro-gastric fistula is differentiated from an extraluminal leak by observing progression of the barium from the pouch directly into the excluded stomach (Figure 4). Gastro-gastric fistula occurs in up to 3.5% of patients.¹³ Early fistulae are associated with extraluminal leak in 90% of patients and may heal spontaneously. Upper GI series better demonstrates a fistula with the excluded stomach because contrast is followed in real time.² On CT scan the excluded stomach is normally collapsed, but it may contain a combination of air, fluid and oral contrast, which may have refluxed from the jejuno-junostomy into the B-limb.¹⁴ Gastro-gastric fistula is suspected on CT scan when contrast is seen in the excluded stomach, but not in the B-limb. Late gastro-gastric fistulae are associated with flattening of the weight loss curve or weight gain and present with loss of early sensation of satiety, often requiring surgical revision.^13,14 Repeated pouch over-distention may be a predisposing factor.¹⁴ Weight gain may also be due to dietary indiscretion with widening of the GJ anastomosis.

Hemorrhage after LRYGB occurs in 0.6 to 4% ^8,15 usually at the gastric staple line or GJ anastomosis. Intraluminal hemorrhage presents with upper GI bleeding and is usually diagnosed and treated with upper endoscopy whereas intra-abdominal hemorrhage presents with a drop in hematocrit without upper GI bleeding.² Extraluminal hemorrhage is usually self-limited, managed conservatively and diagnosed with CT scan (Figure 5). Continued bleeding and hemodynamic compromise may require an intervention.

Transient postoperative edema or spasm with narrowing at the GJ anastomosis usually resolves in the first week (Figure 6). Fixed strictures of the GJ anastomosis occur in 3 - 9 % of patients, typically 4 weeks after surgery, due to scarring or chronic ischemia from excessive tension on the gastrojejunostomy.^2,4,8 The clinical presentation includes postprandial vomiting, bloating, pain, and sometimes, rapid weight loss. On upper GI series, a short-segment of smooth narrowing of the GJ anastomosis with a dilated pouch and delayed emptying of the pouch is observed. Strictures are generally treated successfully with endoscopic dilatation (Figure 7).¹⁶

Marginal ulcers at the gastrojejunostomy occur in 3 to 16% of cases.^17,18 Ulcers are often solitary, variable in size, and present with epigastric pain and GI bleeding. Possible etiologies include excessive acid production, tobacco and NSAIDs use, suture material irritation, and surgical issues such as the configuration of the pouch, or tension and ischemia of the A-limb.¹⁷ Bleeding ulcers are frequently diagnosed and treated with upper endoscopy.² When visible on the upper GI study, the ulcer crater appears as an outpouching at the GJ anastomosis or abutting the A-limb (Figure 8).⁴ Ulcers are treated with proton pump inhibitors or with surgery if medical therapy fails.

Ischemia of the A-limb may develop when there is increased tension and presents with upper abdominal pain, GI bleeding or nausea and vomiting soon after surgery. The degree of ischemia and radiographic findings are variable. UGI series may show spiculated folds or thumb-printing of the A-limb due to submucosal edema and hemorrhage. Chronic ischemia can lead to stricture and presents with intractable nausea and vomiting or rarely a giant ulcer in the A-limb.⁴

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) occurs in 5%² of patients. It may be due to adhesions, internal hernias, abdominal wall hernias, and stricture, bezoar or intussusception at the JJ anastomosis. CT scan has the highest sensitivity to diagnose and determine the cause of SBO.2 Internal hernias are common after LRYGB.¹⁹ The ABC Classification System differentiates the 3 types of SBO based on the point of obstruction relative to the JJ anastomosis: Type A is an obstruction above the JJ anastomosis with a dilated A-limb, Type B is an obstruction at or above the JJ anastomosis with a dilated B-limb and excluded stomach (closed loop obstruction with high risk of perforation) (Figure 9), and Type C is an obstruction at the level of the common small bowel channel distal to JJ anastomosis with dilatation of both the A and B-limbs.⁴ Acute gastric distention due to edema or obstruction of the JJ anastomosis can cause gastric staple line dehiscence or GJ anastomosis disruption causing leaks.¹

Internal hernias following LRYGB are reported in 1.6 to 5% of patients and occur at the: (a) transverse mesocolon defect (Figure 10), (b) between the mesenteric leaflets at the JJ anastomosis (mesenteric hernia) (Figure 11, or (c) at Peterson’s space behind the A-limb between the transverse mesocolon and the A-limb mesentery.² Rapid weight loss with decreased intra-abdominal fat and enlargement of the mesenteric defects can predispose to internal hernias.^6,20 Internal hernias may be asymptomatic or cause closed loop obstruction, which has a higher propensity of ischemia, infarction and perforation of the strangulated loop. The diagnosis of internal hernia may be challenging when bowel obstruction or dilatation is absent or intermittent.^11,20 Symptoms of internal hernias include acute or chronic abdominal pain and vomiting. Pain out of proportion to the physical findings suggests the presence of ischemia. Differentiation of SBO due to adhesions from an internal hernia may be difficult due to overlapping imaging features on CT scan.

Findings of internal hernia on CT scan are: small bowel loops clustered in the left upper quadrant, or in other abdominal locations (Figure 12), JJ suture line displaced to the left upper quadrant or right mid abdomen (normally located in the left mid abdomen), closed-loop obstruction pattern with two small bowel transition points adjacent to each other (Figure 11), stretching and swirling mesenteric vessels with vascular engorgement, ascending course of tightly clustered small bowel mesenteric vessels and dilatation of the A-limb (Figure 10).^4,20 Internal hernia findings on SB series include: small bowel clustered in the left upper quadrant, mid abdomen, and less commonly in other sites, displacement of bowel and suture line, visualization of loops of bowel entering and exiting the clustered segment (Figure 13), and small bowel dilatation in case of associated obstruction.²¹ There should be a high index of suspicion for an internal hernia in any post-gastric bypass patient presenting with abdominal pain due to the potential for ischemic bowel, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Intussusception usually occurs at the JJ anastomosis, which can act as a lead point, with altered bowel mobility as a contributing factor. Intussusception most commonly is transient and non-obstructing; occasionally persistent and large intussusceptions cause small bowel obstruction (Figure 14).

Food stasis and bezoars in a patulous JJ anastomosis can lead to blind pouch syndrome with bacterial overgrowth and malabsorption (Figure 15). Bezoars can also form in the gastric pouch.

Other complications of LRYGB that can be diagnosed with CT scan, include abscess unrelated to anastomotic leak, splenic infarction, hepatic infarction, incisional or port hernias, gallstone formation and pulmonary embolism. PE is the leading cause of perioperative mortality and can occur up to 6 months following the procedure.¹