Open AccessPregnant woman with fatal complication after laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass
Author(s) -
RENAULT KRISTINA,
GYRTRUP HANS JØRGEN,
DAMGAARD KAREN,
HEDEGAARD MORTEN,
SØRENSEN JETTE LED
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0412.2012.01421.x
Subject(s) - medicine , exploratory laparotomy , roux en y anastomosis , gastric bypass , surgery , laparotomy , complication , gastric bypass surgery , abdominal pain , gestation , pregnancy , general surgery , internal hernia , laparoscopy , bowel obstruction , weight loss , biology , genetics , obesity
In Europe, an increasing number of women have bariatric surgery; therefore, obstetricians are likely to encounter these patients. We report a 22‐year‐old woman, who had previously undergone uncomplicated laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. She was admitted with severe abdominal pain at 35 weeks of gestation. A cesarean section with delivery of a healthy baby in combination with an exploratory laparotomy was performed. Internal herniation was suspected, but not identified during surgery. Three days later she died of a severely gangrenous small bowel secondary to internal herniation. This fatal case illustrates a potential complication and difficulties in the managment of pregnant women who have undergone Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. In these women, observation and investigations based on a multidisciplinary approach are vital if abdominal pain develops, with involvement of intestinal surgeons experienced in bariatric surgery, as well as radiologists with specific knowledge of relevant imaging procedures.