Glossary term
Staple Line Leak
Reference only — not medical advice. See disclaimer.
A serious post-operative complication of bariatric surgery in which the staple line used to divide or reshape the stomach or bowel fails to seal, allowing gastric contents to leak into the abdominal cavity and cause peritonitis or abscess formation. It is one of the most feared complications of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass and may require urgent surgical or endoscopic intervention.