Occult cytomegalovirus infection presents anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy: Two case reports.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains latent and causes disease in immunocompromised patients. However, surgical stress may also trigger reactivation without overt immunosuppression, leading to severe complications.

Patient concerns

Both patients developed life-threatening postoperative bleeding and anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy. The complications were difficult to resolve, leading to transfer to our hospital's intensive care unit in the first case and repeated reoperations for leakage in the second case.

Diagnoses

Refractory postoperative anastomotic leakage associated with occult CMV infection.

Interventions

CMV infection was confirmed by whole-blood CMV PCR and treated with intravenous ganciclovir. Supportive measures, including endoscopic vacuum t

SUBMITTER: Kim JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12826198 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature