Thoracic esophageal rupture during sleeve gastrectomy: a case report with successful laparoscopic transhiatal repair

Abstract

While laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most common bariatric procedures for morbid obesity, the rate of complications is decreasing. These complications include hemorrhage and gastric leak that are considered life threatening. The esophageal complications in the form of perforation or rupture during LSG are rare and mainly because of iatrogenic reasons, such as blind, unguided instrumentation, which include the bougie (commonly used for gastric calibration during LSG). These complications are potential life threatening. The detection and management of these complications can affect the outcome and minimize the morbidity and avoid the incidence of mortality. We report a case of 38-year-old female, with a body mass index of 42 with iatrogenic rupture of distal and thoracic part of esophagus for >10-cm length during LSG and the immediate full laparoscopic transhiatal primary repair.