Background and Objectives: Nowadays, with the increasing laparoscopic expertise and accessibility to modern surgical tools, laparoscopic assisted ERCP (LAERCP) has become an effective approach for the management of bile stone disease in patients with modified gastrointestinal anatomy. In contrast to patients with gastric bypass in whom a transgastric LAERCP approach is usually performed, the resultant anatomy of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy precludes a gastric approach as the newly formed bilioenteric anastomosis is not reachable through the stomach. Therefore, a transjejunal approach has been described as an alternative LAERCP technique. To the best of our knowledge this is the tenth case of transjejunal LAERCP reported worldwide. Materials and Methods: We present the case of a 50-year-old female with history of biliary injury during a cholecystectomy corrected with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy who presented to our center with manifestations of acute abdomen. After laboratory and image analysis, diagnosis of intrahepatic lithiasis was confirmed. The decision to perform a transjejunal LAERCP was made due to the complex anatomy in this patient. No complications were found during surgery and in the follow up period. Conclusions: Transjejunal LAERCP is an effective approach for endoscopic management of biliary complications in patients with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy and other modified gastrointestinal anatomy. Previous recommendations by more experienced teams have been reported, nonetheless, there are too few cases reported to make definitive recommendations and conclusions. In limited settings, such as ours, some of these recommendations may not be applicable. We are certain that, with the increasing expertise and innovations in laparoscopy surgery for the management of complications that cannot be addressed by endoscopic or noninvasive measures, more cases will be reported.
Background
Exclusion of the stomach after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) makes access to the biliary tree very challenging for the surgeon or the endoscopist. Different techniques have been described to overcome this downside, including laparoscopy-assisted transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which is an outstanding method to access the remnant stomach in order to reach the duodenal papilla. The use of this technique is associated with a high success rate.
Presentation of case
Here we present the case of a 57-year-old patient with altered RYGB anatomy. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperative cholangiography revealed the presence of a stone in the common bile duct. A laparoscopy-assisted transgastric ERCP was performed successfully. During the procedure, the duodenoscope was introduced through a gastrostomy, obviating the need for an intragastric trocar. The patient evolved favorably and was discharged on second postoperative day without any complications.
Discussion
Transgastric laparoscopy-assisted ERCP represents an effective approach for the management of biliary complications after RYGB, even if there is a long interval between the two interventions, as occurred in the present case. Other methods described for accessing the biliary tree in patients with altered RYGB anatomy are double-balloon ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric ERCP. We elected to perform the laparoscopy-assisted approach because choledocholithiasis was diagnosed transoperatively, thus, avoiding the need for secondary procedures or interventions.
Conclusion
Transgastric laparoscopy-assisted ERCP is a feasible procedure with low complication rates and is used in treating patients with altered RYGB anatomy who present with biliary tract disorders. The use of transgastric laparoscopy-assisted ERCP allows endoscopic treatment and cholecystectomy to be performed in a single setting.
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