Management of a postbulbar duodenal ulcer and stricture causing gastric outlet obstruction: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Peptic ulcer disease has significantly decreased over the past several decades making the need for definitive surgical intervention an infrequent occurrence. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 44-year-old Caucasian female was sent to the emergency department by her primary care physician for right upper quadrant abdominal pain which had been intermittent for the past two months but acutely worsened over the last five days. During this time, she was unable to tolerate oral intake with intractable nausea and vomiting. Upper GI endoscopy revealed a tight stricture in the second part of the duodenum and antral biopsy was Helicobacter pylori negative. Patient underwent two rounds of balloon dilation with short lived symptomatic relief. An open pylorus-preserving duodenal stricturoplasty using a Heineke-Mikulicz technique was then performed. The operation was successful and the patient has had no reoccurrence of her symptoms. DISCUSSION: Gastric outlet obstruction is an uncommon complication of peptic ulcer disease in respect to chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. The unique location of the patient's stricture and her desire to minimize post-operative GI alterations demanded a review of surgical options and identified the benefits of maintaining the patient's original anatomy versus choosing an extra-anatomic approach. CONCLUSION: This case presented a unique challenge and demonstrated the need for definitive surgical interventions in the treatment of peptic ulcer induced gastric outlet obstruction. This case adds support for the direct anatomic treatment of duodenal strictures when conservative measures fail and perhaps promotes further development of laparoscopic management of gastric outlet obstruction in the future.