"Candy cane syndrome:" an underappreciated cause of abdominal pain and nausea after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

BACKGROUND

"Candy cane" syndrome (a blind afferent Roux limb at the gastrojejunostomy) has been implicated as a cause of abdominal pain, nausea, and emesis after Roux-n-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) but remains poorly described.

OBJECTIVES

To report that "candy cane" syndrome is real and can be treated effectively with revisional bariatric surgery SETTING: All patients underwent "candy cane" resection at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

METHODS

All patients who underwent resection of the "candy cane" between January 2011 and July 2015 were included. All had preoperative workup to identify "candy cane" syndrome. Demographic data; pre-, peri-, and postoperative symptoms; data regarding hospitalization; and postoperative weight loss were assessed through retrospective chart review. Data were analyzed using Student's t test and χ² analysis where appropriate.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients had resection of the "candy cane" (94% female, mean age 50±11 yr), within 3 to 11 years after initial RYGB. Primary presenting symptoms were epigastric abdominal pain (68%) and nausea/vomiting (32%), particularly with fibrous foods and meats. On upper gastrointestinal study and endoscopy, the afferent blind limb was the most direct outlet from the gastrojejunostomy. Only patients with these preoperative findings were deemed to have "candy cane" syndrome. Eighteen (94%) cases were completed laparoscopically. Length of the "candy cane" ranged from 3 to 22 cm. Median length of stay was 1 day. After resection, 18 (94%) patients had complete resolution of their symptoms (P<.001). Mean body mass index decreased from 33.9±6.1 kg/m² preoperatively to 31.7±5.6 kg/m² at 6 months (17.4% excess weight loss) and 30.5±6.9 kg/m² at 1 year (25.7% excess weight loss). The average length of latest follow-up was 20.7 months.

CONCLUSION

"Candy cane" syndrome is a real phenomenon that can be managed safely with excellent outcomes with resection of the blind afferent limb. A thorough diagnostic workup is paramount to proper identification of this syndrome. Surgeons should minimize the size of the blind afferent loop left at the time of initial RYGB.

Surgical management of candy cane syndrome after Roux-en-Y bypass

BACKGROUND

Candy cane (CC) syndrome is a complication that occurs following Roux-en-Y bypass (RYGB), implicated as a long, small-bowel blind limb at gastrojejunostomy possibly caused using circular staplers.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to report our experience with CC resection and improving outcomes following RYGB.

SETTING

University hospital.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent CC resection at our institution from 2017 to 2023. Patient's charts were then reviewed to evaluate for symptoms, operative, and weight data. Only patients with an afferent blind limb in the most direct outlet from the gastroesophageal junction (GJ) visualized in upper gastrointestinal (GI) study and endoscopy were included.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients had presented with symptoms of and underwent surgery of resection of the CC (83% female; 50.3 ± 12.9 years) within 11 ± 6 years after initial RYGB. In addition, 58.6% underwent a concomitant procedure (10 hiatal hernia repair, 4 revision gastrojejunostomy, and 3 internal hernia reduction and defect closure). The mean length of the CC was 7.5 ± 3.9 cm. Resection of CC was performed in 62.1% as stapling only, 34.5% as stapling and oversewing, and 3.4% as oversewing only. The 30-day hospital readmission rate was 7.4% (n = 2). At 8.5-month follow-up, there was a significant reduction (P < .005) of bloating, nausea or vomiting, and dysphagia; however, abdominal pain and diarrhea slightly decreased. The estimated weight loss percentage was 29.4% ± 5.6%, and body mass index decreased from 32.1 ± 7.3 kg/m2 to 29.1 ± 4.7 kg/m2.

CONCLUSIONS

Resection of blind afferent limb can be managed safely with excellent outcomes and resolution of symptoms, even if major procedures are performed concomitantly. Surgeons should resect excess Roux limb in the initial RYGB to decrease the likelihood of this syndrome.