Abstract
Blind loop syndrome is a recognized complication of intestinal anastomosis that often occurs at side-to-side anastomotic sites. Here we report a case of blind loop syndrome affecting a functional end-to-end anastomotic site following sigmoidectomy. The patient was a 66-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy at another hospital. Reconstruction was performed with the creation of a functional end-to-end anastomosis (semi-closed method). Four years and four months postoperatively, the patient presented at our hospital with the chief complaints of a lump in the left lateral region, abdominal pain, and constipation. The anastomotic region of the intestinal tract had expanded into a sac-like shape. A large fecal mass was incarcerated within. The patient was diagnosed with blind loop syndrome following the creation of a functional end-to-end anastomosis. Intestinal resection including the anastomotic region was performed with reconstruction of the end-to-end anastomotic region using manual suturing. Since blind loop is a known complication affecting functional end-to-end anastomosis following laparoscopic colectomy, physicians should consider blind loop syndrome in patients complaining of postoperative stool abnormalities.
