title: Anatomy and complications following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: radiological evaluation and imaging pitfalls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the post-operative gastric anatomy depicted by upper gastrointestinal gastrografin swallow studies (UGI) and report radiological work-up and management of complications following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 85 consecutive patients who underwent LSG for the treatment of morbid obesity. In all patients, a UGI was routinely performed on POD 3 to exclude early complications. In patients with suspected complications, further radiological evaluation with computed tomography (CT) was performed. The anatomy of the gastric remnant depicted by UGI was retrospectively evaluated in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patterns of the gastric remnant identified were the tubular (65.9%), the superior pouch (25.9%), and the inferior pouch pattern (8.2%). Three patients had small superior pouches that resembled leaks, and the diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms. Post-operative complications were observed in 12.9% and included leaks (3.5%), hemorrhages (3.5%), strictures (2.3%), pulmonary embolism (1.2%), trocar site hernia (1.2%), and hematoma of the rectus abdominal muscle (1.2%). No mortality was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-operative radiological evaluation by UGI and CT is important for diagnosis and management of complications following LSG. Familiarity with the anatomy of the gastric remnant at UGI is essential for correct image interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Triantafyllidis
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lazoura
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sioka
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzovaras
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vassiou
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zacharoulis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine