Published online Dec 6, 2018. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v6.i15.1047
Peer-review started: August 6, 2018
First decision: October 5, 2018
Revised: November 8, 2018
Accepted: November 14, 2018
Article in press: November 15, 2018
Published online: December 6, 2018
Processing time: 125 Days and 8.2 Hours
This report describes a 52-year-old male patient with blunt abdominal traumatic rupture of the spleen due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Following splenectomy, the patient developed a gastric fistula. He underwent a long period of conservative treatment, including antibiotics and total parenteral nutrition, which was ineffective. The fistula could not be closed and titanium clip closure using a gastroscopy was then performed in order to close the fistula. After endoscopic therapy and clipping surgery, the patient’s general condition improved significantly, and he had no post-procedural abdominal complications. On post-clipping day 6, the gastric fistula was completely closed as shown by X-ray examination of the upper digestive tract. The patient was discharged from hospital and no complications were observed during the six-month follow-up period. Our report suggests that titanium clip closure using endoscopy may be the choice of treatment in patients with a gastric fistula.
Core tip: Gastric fistula after splenectomy is an uncommon complication, and is difficult to treat and cure. The current management of gastric fistula mainly includes conservative treatment and surgery. There are only a few reports concerning gastric fistula treatment using endoscopy. This is the first report of successful treatment of a gastric fistula after splenectomy using titanium endoscopic clipping.