Endoscopic Detorsion for Early Postoperative Roux Limb Torsion after Laparoscopic Gastrectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Various types of obstruction can occur after a gastrectomy for gastric cancer. If proper treatment is not performed, such obstructions can lead to serious conditions. Early postoperative Roux limb torsion is a rare complication, and few reports of endoscopic treatment for this complication have been made. In the present report, we describe the endoscopic detorsion of Roux limb torsion in two patients. The first case was a 77-year-old woman who underwent a laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction for early gastric cancer and a laparoscopic ileocecal resection (ICR) for early colorectal cancer. On the 12th day after the gastrectomy, a Roux limb torsion was observed. Endoscopic detorsion was performed, and the patient recovered. She was discharged on postoperative day 40. The second case was a 73-year-old man who underwent a laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy with a R-Y reconstruction for early gastric cancer. On the 8th day after the gastrectomy, a Roux limb torsion occurred at the Y-shaped anastomosis (Y-anastomosis). Endoscopic detorsion was performed, and the patient recovered. He was discharged on postoperative day 17. In summary, we experienced two cases in which an endoscopic reduction of a Roux limb torsion was performed at the Y-anastomosis after gastrectomy with R-Y reconstruction. This study presents a further review of these cases and a summary of the existing literature.