Perforated duodenal ulcers after Roux-Y Gastric Bypass.

Even though the incidence of complicated peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has decreased in the last decades, it remains a condition with a significant mortality. Whilst diagnosis and treatment of PUD in morbidly obese patients can be challenging, patients with excluded segments - such as after Roux-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) - present an even greater problem, as the subsequent altered anatomy impedes the common modalities used for diagnostic and therapeutic measures. We report the cases of two patients after RYGB with perforated duodenal ulcers in the intention to highlight problems regarding diagnosis and treatment. Patients with perforation after RYGB usually present without signs of hollow organ perforation in clinical examination but also in computed tomography scans. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed to address the discrepancy between pain and non-diagnostic examinations. An aggressive approach in case of unexplained symptoms in these patients is not only justified but mandatory.

Ulcer Disease in the Excluded Segments after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: a Current Review of the Literature.

Ulcer disease in excluded segments after Roux-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is rare but can evolve into a life-threatening situation. The excluded segments exhibit a different behavior from that of non-altered anatomy; perforated ulcers do not result in pneumoperitoneum or free fluid, and therefore must be met with a low threshold for surgical exploration. The anatomical changes after RYGB impede routine access to the remnant stomach and duodenum. There are various options to address bleeding or perforated ulcers. While oversewing and drainage preserves the anatomy and forgoes resection, remnant gastrectomy offers a definitive solution. The importance of traditional risk factors such as smoking or use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is unclear. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and secondary prophylaxis with proton-pump inhibitors is advisable, albeit in double-dose.