OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at describing main radiological findings in patients who developed leaks as a complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery by the Higa's technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with post-gastric bypass anastomotic leaks were evaluated by means of computed tomography or gastrointestinal series. RESULTS: Leaks of superior anastomoses generally occurred within 30 postoperative days. Nineteen patients were radiologically diagnosed with anastomotic leaks, and ten of them presented contrast material extravasation, which is considered as a direct sign of the presence of anastomotic leaks. Seven of the remainder nine patients demonstrated contrast extravasation on subsequent studies, and indirect signs were also observed in six cases. Indirect signs were also observed in the patients with contrast material extravasation, the most frequent finding being pneumoperitoneum. Later follow-up examinations demonstrated contrast extravasation in one, and indirect signs in four of the five patients who had not been radiologically diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The most frequent radiological finding was contrast material extravasation (a direct sign of leak). Indirect signs were: unusual air-fluid levels, intracavitary fluid collections, disproportionate postoperative pneumoperitoneum, presence of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, anastomotic edema and small-bowel distention.
Morbid obesity; Bariatric surgery; Anastomotic leak; Complication; Radiology; Computed tomography
