Question:
If I'm stapled & transected, what happens if there is a leak in the staple line?

I have read that some posters have staple line disruptions, and gain weight back because food goes into the bottom half of their old stomach,thus they are able to eat more. But if you are stapled & transected, what happens if there is a staple line disruption? Does all of that food go into your stomach cavity?    — plsmom (posted on April 27, 2003)

April 27, 2003
If you are transected, the chance of a leak in the first few days postop are, from my understanding, the only time you have to worry. And you are still in the hospital eating very little at that time. If you develop a leak, you can get peritonitis which means the food empties into your body. The stomach is not attached so it can't go there. BUT once the scar tissue forms the pouch is sealed and chances are almost nil you will ever have a leak. The risk of peritonitis is very slight and that is why you are watched so carefully in the hospital and some surgeons give the leak test before you go home. If you are not transected and a disruption in the staple ilne occur ( which it can at any time post op even years later), the food then flows into the old still attached stomach. Transection is the best choice for long term success. I had a disruption at 6 mos post op and so went back for revision to transection at 11 mos post op. It is much better with transection.
   — Mylou52

April 27, 2003
I was transected and still developed a fistula at 3.5 months out. It is obvious on the x-ray that the stomach was divided and separated (transected). Then, you see an inch long tunnel connecting the two parts - scary! On the upper GI I could see the liquid flowing from the new stomach into the old. I can eat much more than I am supposed to be able to and I was also in a great deal of pain from the stomach acid that the old stomach produced. The pain is under control now with Protonix. I am having a revision on June 30th. I don't look forward to that as it is a more complicated surgery - but, I made the decision to go ahead with it. I had zero complications the first three months - not even nausea. There are no guarantees!
   — Kim B