Distal Gastrectomy With Roux-en-Y Reconstruction for a Seriously Dilated Stomach With Gastric Outlet Obstruction Secondary to Sarcina ventriculi: A Case Report

Sarcina ventriculi is an anaerobic gram-positive coccus that can resist the acidic media of the stomach and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old male patient with a history of schizophrenia presenting with abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and weight loss. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast revealed a severely dilated stomach and signs of gastric outlet obstruction on multiple occasions. The endoscopic evaluation showed a dilated stomach, and biopsies revealed non-specific gastritis, negative Helicobacter pylori, and positive S. ventriculi with metaplasia. Medical treatment with proton pump inhibitors, pro-kinetics, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole failed to improve his symptoms. Finally, the patient was managed surgically with distal gastrectomy with Roux en Y reconstruction, and gastrostomy tube placement was done with satisfactory improvement in his symptoms.