Anterograde intussusception following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Intussusception is a rare but worrisome cause of bowel obstruction in patients following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. When intussusceptions is discovered in the general adult population, most often there is a "lead-point"; however, following bariatric procedures, this may not be true. There appears to be an increased incidence of this condition in open compared to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures. Intussusception is often difficult to diagnose, especially in this population. Symptoms and signs can be very vague, and even computed tomography may not be accurate in diagnosing this condition. A high index of suspicion is required to successfully diagnose intussusception, and treatment often requires exploration and bowel resection. Herein, we report a case that follows several of these trends and suggests other possible contributions to intussusception. We also review other cases of intussusception after laparoscopic gastric bypass reported in the literature.