Intrathoracic gastric volvulus complicating a robotic left upper lobectomy

Abstract

Unrecognized intrathoracic gastric volvulus can be a life-threatening condition, especially in elderly individuals undergoing major surgical procedures. We herein report the first case of a gastric volvulus after a robot-assisted left upper lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer in a patient with a known paraesophageal hernia. The operative procedure was performed by Dr Jacques Fontaine a senior thoracic surgeon at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida a major academic institution. This operation was complicated by a large type-III hiatal hernia, with most of the stomach having herniated into the left pleural cavity and demonstrating organo-axial torsion one day after the indexed operation for the lung cancer. The patient required emergency surgery due to gastric ischemia. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with reduction of the volvulus and closure of the esophageal hiatus at that time. The patient was taken back to the operating room for a planned relook 24 h after the exploratory laparotomy to assess viability of the stomach. Unfortunately, the second look revealed necrotic areas of the stomach, which required to be resected. Given her age and poor nutritional status, we elected to place a feeding jejunostomy tube. Her postoperative course was marred by an abdominal wound infection treated with a wound vacuum-assisted closure device. Ultimately she was discharged home on POD#19 tolerating a regular diet. This case report highlights that in the elderly patients undergoing left lung resection with a known large hiatal hernia, the index of suspicion for herniation must be high and prompt recognition can avert mortality or morbidity.