Emergent management of complicated paraesophageal hernia due to distal gastrointestinal obstruction: three-case series

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to describe the diagnostic evaluation and treatment in patients with complicated paraesophageal hernia (PEH) and distal gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction. Methods: Three cases with known PEH in the Department of Surgery of the General Hospital of Nea Ionia ‘’Constantopoulion-Patission’’, I woman 78 yrs, II man 88 and III man 78, underwent emergent open surgery for complicated PEH and GI obstruction. Cardiorespiratory distress in all and sepsis in I, were encountered. Case I had coexistent incarcerated abdominal hernia, II had a prepyloric lesion revealed by gastroscopy and III chronic constipation. X-rays and CT scan helped diagnosis. Operative findings: In case I, we found viable incarcerated bowel, gastric fundus and body strangulated in mediastinum, fundus ruptured, and antrum ischemic; total gastrectomy with esophageal and duodenal stapling were performed. In case II, the stomach with an obstructive prepyloric lesion was volvulized in mediastinum; distal gastrectomy, gastrojejunostomy, cruroraphy and fundopexy were performed. In case III, strangulation of the dolichosigmoid was the prominent feature, moreover, incarceration of gastric fundus and transverse colon in PEH sac were also found; reduction of PEH contents, limited resection of thick congenital bands, extended left colectomy, cruroraphy, fundopexy and caecopexy were performed. Results: Case I and II were transferred intubated to ICU. Case I was never stabilized, died after 50 hours; histology confirmed gastric necrosis. Case II was extubated on day 4, discharged on day 28; histology revealed antral ischemia and prepyloric pT2 adenocarcinoma. Case III had uneventful outcome; histology revealed dolichosigmoid ischemia. Follow-up of cases II and III (32 and 30 months respectively) has been uneventful. Conclusion: Obstructive conditions distal to large PEHs may lead to acute complications in hernia contents and emergent surgery is challenging. Obstructive conditions distal to large PEHs may lead to acute complications in hernia contents and emergent surgery is challenging.