LAUSR

Gastric necrosis and perforation after Nissen funduplication is a rare and life-treatening complication. Prompt diagnosis of acute gastric dilatation is mandatory to avoid gastric necrosis. A tight funduplication can cause a gastric dilatation because of the inability to vomit. Other causes of gastric dlatation include trauma, volvulus, anorexia and bulimia diabetes, polyphagia, acute infections and others. A 56-year-old man was admited to emergency room with acute-onset epigastric pain and persistent nausea for the past 4 hours. Nine years ago he underwent a laparosocpic Nissen-Rossetti funduplication for a reflux disease.The examination showed abdominal distension and defense. Computed tomography of the abdomen (TAC) show a important pneumoperitoneum distributed diffusely throughout the abdomen, marked gastric distension with abundant content inside. Free intraperitoneal fluid and postsurgical changes in relation to Nissen fundoplication. An emergentcy laparotomy was indicated. Emergency laparotomy showed free peritoneal fluid with gastric dilatation and two areas of necrosis and perforation (localized in fundus and gastric body). We performed a total gastrectomy with esophagojejunal anastomosis. The patient sufferd a pulmonary embolism 8 days after laparotomy Pathological examination reported gastric dilatation and two areas of ischemia and trasnmural necrosis with perforation and peritonitis. If the intragastric pressure excede gastric venous pressure can result in ischaemia and infarctation.Increased intragastric pressure is usually the result of a closed loop, secondary to mechanical compresion of the cardio-esophageaal and pyloroduodenal junctions, as can occur in patients with a Nissen procedure. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of gastric dilatation in these patients is mandatory to avoid major complications. All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.