Background - Surgical management of primitive chronic intestinal pseudo-obs
truction involving the duodenum (megaduodenum) is on uncommon but still dif
ficult problem.
Patients and methods - Six patients who experienced severe symptoms were ma
naged by on original surgical procedure including partial duodenal resectio
n and reconstruction of a duodenal tract using large duodenal anastomosis (
duodenectomy-duodenoplasty).
Results - There was no postoperative complication. All preoperative symptom
s completely regressed in all but one patient who had previously undergone
a vagotomy and experienced transient early post-operative gastric stasis. W
ith a median follow-up of 6 years (range 4-9), all patients had good functi
onal results without any evidence of other motility disorders. The mean wei
ght gain was 10 kg (range 7-15).
Conclusions - Duodenectomy-duodenoplasty is a safe procedure resulting in e
fficient symptom relief in patients suffering from megaduodenum.