Management of jejunal pouch dysfunction following total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Total gastrectomy with oesophagojejunal pouch anastomosis and Roux-en-Y reconstruction is a well recognised procedure for patients undergoing curative resections for gastric malignancy. The formation of a jejunal pouch is thought by some to create a reservoir that, when compared with straight oesophagojejunal anastomosis, reduces the incidence of post-operative dumping.

CASE HISTORY: A patient presented two years after a total gastrectomy with oesophagojejunal pouch anastomosis and Roux-en-Y reconstruction for a T3N2M0 adenocarcinoma of the stomach, with postprandial vomiting and dysphagia resulting in massive weight loss and malnutrition. Recurrent cancer and stricturing was ruled out by gastroscopy and computed tomography, and distal obstruction was ruled out by an oral contrast study. The diagnosis of a functional jejunal pouch disorder was made by exclusion. Balloon dilatation of the pouch and the oesophagojejunal anastomosis found little symptomatic improvement. The patient's deteriorating nutritional status prompted us to urgently perform revisional surgery. A re-laparotomy and pouch-jejunal bypass procedure was performed. Post-operatively, the patient made a full symptomatic recovery and began gaining weight.

CONCLUSIONS: A pouch-enteric bypass is a suitable treatment option for patients with functional jejunal pouch dysmotility following a total gastrectomy and jejunal pouch formation in the absence of distal obstruction and recurrent disease.