Postoperative internal hernia of gastric cancer:analysis of formation reasons and clinical diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Objective To explore the reasons and clinical treatment process of postoperative internal hernia in cases of gastric cancer, and improve the diagnosis and treatment level postoperative acute abdomen pain of gastric cancer patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out to study the data of clinical diagnosis and treatment in 7 patients, who were performed an emergency operation within the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January, 2013 to August, 2016 caused by postoperative internal hernias of gastric cancer. Results Among the 7 postoperative gastric cancer patients, 2 cases had taken surgery of radical full gastric resection, 3 cases had taken surgery of radical distal gastric resection, and 2 cases had taken surgery of radical proximal gastric resection. All the 7 cases were confirmed to be incarcerated intestinal obstruction caused by internal hernia during emergency operation. Only 1 case was diagnosed to be internal hernia before surgery, while 3 cases were diagnosed as volvulus, 2 cases were diagnosed as perforation and 1 case was diagnosed as gastrolplegia. The small intestinal obstruction of all cases was caused by incarcerated intestinal. All the patients recovered well, and no complications occurred. Conclusions Internal hernias of the postoperative gastric cancer patients, which is often characterized by small intestinal obstruction symptoms, is difficult to diagnose before operation. Emergency operation in time for the postoperative gastric cancer patients with continuous acute abdominal pain may help to reduce the severe complications and improve patient′s prognosis. Key words: Stomach neoplasms; Gastrectomy; Internal hernia; Roux-en-Y anastomosis