title: Endoscopic dilation of gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures after laparoscopic gastric bypass. Predictors of initial failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is the most frequent technique performed in bariatric surgery. Gastrojejunal anastomotic stricture is one of the most common postoperative complications. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation in the treatment of the gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures after LRYGB and to look for predicting factors that would indicate the need of repeated dilations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included all patients with morbid obesity who underwent a LRYGB at our institution between January 2002 and July 2007. All patients who developed symptoms compatible with stricture of the gastrojejunostomy were referred to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and underwent endoscopic balloon dilation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and five out of the 1,330 patients (7.8%) developed an anastomotic stricture. The mean time to diagnosis was 3 months after the surgery. The mean diameter of the stricture was 5 mm. Sixty out of the 105 patients required only one dilation (57%), 29 required two dilations (27,6%), 13 required three dilations, and 3 patients underwent a fourth dilation. Clinical success was achieved in 100% of the cases, with an average of 1.6 dilations. The statistical analysis showed that only the time from surgery to stricture formation (p = 0.007) and the diameter achieved at the first dilation (p = 0.015) had statistical significance as predictors of the need of one or more dilations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic balloon dilation is a safe and effective method. Most of the patients are successfully managed with one or two dilations. The longer time from surgery to the appearance of symptoms ant the largest diameter achieved at the first dilation are the only predicting factors of success with only one dilation.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy Unit, Centro Médico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Da Costa
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinós
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turró
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballesta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002404:Catheterization; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
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