Postoperative duodenal stenosis as an early complication following laparoscopy-assisted resection of transverse colon cancer: report of successful endoscopic balloon dilatation

Abstract

A 69-year-old man underwent laparoscopy-assisted resection for transverse colon cancer. He visited our department approxiately 1 month after operation suffering from nausea and epigastric discomfort. Endoscopy and X-ray examina-tion showed a severe stenosis in the second portion of the duodenum, which we believe was caused by the previous colectomy as indicated by no evidence of other causative event or factor found in his history or through thorough examination. He was then successfully treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation using of a controlled radial expansion wire-guided balloon dilatation catheter. We report a case of postoperative duodenal stenosis as an early complication following laparoscopy-assisted resection of transverse colon cancer. This case would be the first report documented in Japan that we are aware of. Furthermore, this experience suggested that endoscopic balloon dilatation for postoperative duodenal stenosis is effective.