OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at describing main radiological findings in patients who developed leaks as a complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery by the Higa's technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with post-gastric bypass anastomotic leaks were evaluated by means of computed tomography or gastrointestinal series. RESULTS: Leaks of superior anastomoses generally occurred within 30 postoperative days. Nineteen patients were radiologically diagnosed with anastomotic leaks, and ten of them presented contrast material extravasation, which is considered as a direct sign of the presence of anastomotic leaks. Seven of the remainder nine patients demonstrated contrast extravasation on subsequent studies, and indirect signs were also observed in six cases. Indirect signs were also observed in the patients with contrast material extravasation, the most frequent finding being pneumoperitoneum. Later follow-up examinations demonstrated contrast extravasation in one, and indirect signs in four of the five patients who had not been radiologically diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The most frequent radiological finding was contrast material extravasation (a direct sign of leak). Indirect signs were: unusual air-fluid levels, intracavitary fluid collections, disproportionate postoperative pneumoperitoneum, presence of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, anastomotic edema and small-bowel distention.

Keywords: Morbid obesity, Bariatric surgery, Anastomotic leak, Complication, Radiology, Computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the main radiological aspects of postoperative intestinal obstruction in patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass by means of the Higa's technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10 patients presenting with postoperative intestinal obstruction following a gastric reduction procedure were evaluated in the period between November 2001 and April 2006, in seven different medical centers. RESULTS: In the ten patients, the obstruction occurred in the small bowel, five of them because of internal hernias, three because of adhesions, one because of an umbilical hernia and one because of intussusception. Four patients presented obstruction early in the postoperative period (by the seventh post-op day), and six, late in the postoperative period (between the third month and the fifth year). CONCLUSION: All of the cases of intestinal obstruction were found in the small bowel. Internal hernia was the most frequent cause, followed by adhesion. Other causes included umbilical hernia and intussusception.

Keywords: Morbid obesity, Bariatric surgery, Intestinal obstruction, Complication, Radiology, Computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate computed tomography (CT) findings in 23 patients with bronchial atresia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT images were reviewed by two radiologists who reached decisions by consensus. We included only patients who presented with abnormalities on CT and in whom the diagnosis had been confirmed by pathological examination of the surgical specimen (if the lesion was resected). The CT scans were assessed in order to identify the main findings and to map the distribution of the lesions (i.e., to determine whether the pulmonary involvement was unilateral or bilateral). RESULTS: The main CT finding was the combination of bronchocele and hyperinflation of the distal lung. That combination was observed in all of the patients. The lesions were unilateral in all 23 cases, being seen predominantly in the left upper lobe, followed by the right lower lobe, right upper lobe, middle lobe, and left lower lobe. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of bronchial atresia can be reliably made on the basis of a finding of bronchocele accompanied by hyperinflation of the adjacent lung parenchyma.

Keywords: Bronchi/abnormalities; Congenital abnormalities; Tomography, X-ray computed.