“Rendezvous technique” for intraluminal vacuum therapy of anastomotic leakage of the jejunum

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most common and serious complications following visceral surgery. In recent years, endoluminal vacuum therapy has dramatically changed therapeutic options for AL, but its use has been limited to areas easily accessible by endoscope. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the first use of endoluminal vacuum therapy in the small intestine employing a combined surgical and endoscopic “rendezvous technique” in which the surgeon assists the endoscopic placement of an endoluminal vacuum therapy sponge in the jejunum by means of a pullback string. This technique led to a completely closed AL after 27 days and 7 changes of the endosponge. CONCLUSION: The combined surgical and endoscopic rendezvous technique can be useful in cases of otherwise difficult endosponge placement.