ABSTRACT
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a technique used for the surgical management of morbid obesity. This report illustrates the case of a 46-year-old African American woman who presented with a rare case of small bowel obstruction (SBO) two years post-LAGB placement. SBO, in this case, was a result of LAGB connecting tube intertwinement within the mesentery, accompanied by adhesions. The patient was diagnosed clinically and radiologically by computed tomography (CT) scan, which showed high-grade SBO. Initially, an exploratory laparoscopy was conducted, which soon transformed into an exploratory laparotomy when the cause of obstruction was seen to be the intertwinement of the connecting tube of the gastric band with the mesentery. With the rise of bariatric procedures to combat the epidemic of obesity in American society, this rare complication secondary to one of the most widely performed procedures beckons the attention of bariatric surgeons, emergency personnel, and device manufacturers.
ABSTRACT
We report the case of a 56-year-old male presenting with nine days of constipation and absence of flatus without any improvement and who had received conservative management after recent admission at an external hospital. Upon further investigation, the patient was diagnosed with rectosigmoid adenocarcinoma and was successfully surgically treated without any perioperative complications. This case highlights the importance of early detection and interventions necessary to prevent progression of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Easily manageable symptoms such as constipation may require further evaluation by implementing a constipation scoring system to avoid missed diagnoses such as cancer and metastasis. Therefore, the association between constipation and colorectal carcinoma warrants further research investigations as well as clinician awareness to prevent life-threatening complications.
