Question:
What procedure is taken when your upper GI shows leaks along the staple line?

Is surgery necessary to correct the leaking problem? Where does the leak dump out into? How serious is this for 1 year post op patients? Thanks for any answers.    — Lori A. (posted on February 2, 2005)

February 2, 2005
Well, since you are still around to ask this question, I'm going to assume this is a staple line disruption and not a leak. A leak occurs usually immediately post op in a transected pouch, any food or liquids eaten would spill into the abdominal cavity causing sepsis and eventually death. Sounds like you are not transected and the food is passing from the pouch into the larger stomach. I had this happen with my VBG and I was revised to RNY with transected pouch. If it is not corrected, you stand the chance of gaining back any weight you have lost. Surgery to transect the pouch would be your best bet.
   — Ali M

February 2, 2005
Like Ali, I had SLD at 5 yrs post-op, but I had RNY to start. In my case, the stomach acid was also bubbling UP thru the SLD, which was giving me the same reflux I had pre-op and making me nauseated. That and a gazillion protein drinks helped combat the gain while I waited thru insurance games. If you were not transected, the staple line would leak food from pouch to old stomach. If you WERE transected, you'd make the books if you leaked now. If you had a SLD, you would have to have a revision to correct that problem. You asked about diagnosis. My doctors prefer EGD (endoscopy). Some doctors prefer UGI (upper GI or other type of swallow) and some docs do both.
   — vitalady

February 3, 2005
First of all I hope you are not leaking into your abdominal cavity, but here is what happened to me. I had an anastomosis leak, but I had drains already in due to other complications. When I would eat, food particles would show up in my drain. I could eat an egg and in a few minutes, it would show up in my drain. this sounds impossible with all I've read, but it happened. When I had a stricture a few weeks later, the leak sealed itself once the pressure was off. Everything you read says...death if not taken care of, but I can tell you for sure that I am still living and I had a leak, an abcess, spleenectomy due to the doc nicking it and bleeding out. Let us hear from you again to know for sure where the leak is..Good luck.
   — debi327