Impact of Mesenteric Defect Closure During Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB): a Retrospective Study for a Total of 2093 LRYGB

Background: Internal hernia is a rare but a potentially fatal complication of laparoscopic Roux-En-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). The aims of this study are to determine the impact of mesenteric defects closure on the incidence of internal hernia after LRYGB and to determine the symptoms, characteristics, and management of internal hernias after LRYGB. Methods: A retrospective study for a total of 2093 LRYGB was carried out from 1998 to December 2013. Four hundred twenty-one patients were operated without closure of the mesenteric defects (group A). From January 2005 to December 2013, 1672 patients were operated with closure of the mesenteric defects at Petersen defect (PD) and at jejunojejunal anastomosis (J-J) defect (group B). The incidence of internal hernias was compared between the two periods. Results: Out of the 2093 patients who underwent LRYGB, 20 patients (0.95%) developed a symptomatic internal hernia that required primary surgical intervention; 7 patients (1.66%) in group A all at J-J DEFECT versus 13 patients (0.78%) in (group B) 6 at (J-J DEFECT), 5 at PD, and 2 at PD, J-J DEFECT. This incidence was significantly lower in (group B) (p = 0.0021). The median interval between LRYGB and reoperation was 53 months in group A and 26 months in group B. A CT scan was performed in 8 patients, 40%, and showed signs of occlusion in all cases. Conclusions: The closure of mesenteric defects during LRYGB is recommended because it is associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of internal hernia.