Intussusception and Internal Hernia After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery in a Woman With Twin Pregnancy: A Case Report

Abstract

Severe obesity is a global concern now, and bariatric surgery has been proven to be the best solution. Most candidates are women of reproductive age; therefore, an increasing number of pregnant women with the history of gastric bypass is noticed. A 33-year-old woman at 23 weeks' gestation with a twin pregnancy, with a history of bariatric surgery 2 years prior her pregnancy, presented to our hospital with small bowel necrosis due to internal hernia and intussusception, we proceeded to laparotomy and resection of the necrotic segment of the bowel. The patient underwent cesarean section on the 35 weeks of her pregnancy due to preterm labor and intra uterine growth retardation of the fetuses. Since the gravid uterus increases the intraabdominal pressure, the complications of bariatric surgery such as intussusception or internal hernia may occur even more frequently during pregnancy. Although computed tomography scan or ultrasound could assist clinicians for early diagnosis of complications, negative findings could not rule out small bowel obstruction; therefore, in a pregnant woman with persisting abdominal pain, obstipation, and vomiting, exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy is mandatory. Pregnant women with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) should be considered high-risk obstetric, and symptoms like ongoing abdominal pain, and vomiting should be taken as alarm sign for small bowel obstruction. Computed tomography (CT) scan is the modality of choice for detecting the small bowel obstruction, and is mandatory, taking into consideration the considerable harms to the fetus.