Internal hernia after proximal gastrectomy with jejunal interposition

Although internal hernia (IH) has been reported after laparoscopic distal or total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, there are few reports of IH after proximal gastrectomy with jejunal interposition (PG-JI). The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and clinical features of IH after PG-JI. This study retrospectively reviewed 71 patients who underwent PG-JI for gastric cancer at a single institution between July 2007 and December 2016. The median follow-up period after PG-JI was 50 months. Four patients (5.6%) developed IH. IH occurred in 3 of 38 patients after open PG (7.9%) and 1 of 33 after laparoscopic PG (3.1%; p = 0.38). The site of IH was Petersen in all cases, where the Petersen defect was not closed. All patients had abdominal pain at onset, and the CT revealed a whirl sign. Bowel resection was required in three patients (75%). There was no morbidity. IH after PG-JI occurred regardless of operative approach (open or laparoscopic). A high degree of suspicion for IH should be maintained in patients after gastrectomy with abdominal pain and a whirl sign on CT. Closure of the mesenteric defects should be considered to reduce the incidence of IH after surgery.