Introduction:

chyloperitoneum is an infrequent and under-reported complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). It is the presence of a milky liquid with a high-fat content (triglycerides > 110 mg/dL), secondary to obstruction and loss of lymphatic flow.

Material and methods:

this article reports five cases of patients undergoing RYGB by laparoscopy who were reoperated for suspected intestinal obstruction and in whom chyloperitoneum was found as an intraoperative finding.

Results:

the presence of an internal hernia by a defect in the jejunal space was found in the five patients. The result of the cytochemical examination of free fluid found during diagnostic surgery for chyloperitoneum. The diagnosis was associated with an obstructive presentation in all patients, resolving with the reduction of the hernia and correction of the mesenteric defect.

Conclusion:

chyloperitoneum is a rare complication in patients with internal hernia with RYGB, with few cases reported in the literature. Although it is considered a rare complication, it can indicate internal hernias when the diagnosis is inconclusive. It may well be resolved during diagnostic laparoscopy by reducing the internal hernia and closing the mesenteric defect.