Challenges in the Diagnosis of Leak After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Clinical Presentation, Laboratory, and Radiological Findings

BACKGROUND: The presentation of leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is variable. A missed or delayed diagnosis can lead to severe consequences. This study presents our experience: the clinical presentations, laboratory, and radiological findings in patients with leak after LSG. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who were diagnosed and treated as leak after LSG at our center (January 2012–November 2019). RESULTS: Eighty patients developed leak: 68 (85%) after primary LSG, 6 (7.5%) after Re-LSG and 6 (7.5%) after band removal to revisional LSG. Mean age 35.9 ± 10 years. The diagnosis was within 18 ± 14 days after surgery. Five (6.3%) patients were diagnosed during the same admission. Only 29.3% of patients were diagnosed correctly from the first visit to the ER. Most were misdiagnosed as gastritis (49%) and pneumonia (22.6%). Thirty-four patients (45.3%) were diagnosed correctly at the third visit. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (90%), tachycardia (71.3%), and fever (61.3%). The mean white blood cells (WBCs) count was 14700 ± 5900 (cells/mm(3)), c-reactive protein (CRP) 270 ± 133 mg/L, lactic acid 1.6 ± 0.85 mmol/L, and albumin 30.3 ± 6.6 g/L. The abdominal CT scans revealed intraabdominal collection in 93.7% of patients, extravasation of contrast in 75%, and pleural effusion in 52.5%. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study (UGIC) showed extravasation of contrast in 77.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Abdominal pain, tachycardia, or fever after LSG should raise the suspicion of a leak. CT scan of the abdomen and UGIC study detected leaks in 75% and 77.5% consecutively. Only 29.3% of patients were diagnosed correctly as a leak from the first visit to the ER.