The blind pouch syndrome.

The blind pouch syndrome is a series of symptoms associated with blind pouch formation, secondary to a side-to-side intestinal anastomosis. The diagnosis is easily suspected in a patient with anemia, episodes of diarrhea, intermittent crampy abdominal pain, weight loss and a history of a previous abdominal operation. The effectiveness of intubation-infusion barium studies of the small intestine in demonstrating obscure lesions therein, undetected by conventional methods, should be used for a prompt and precise diagnosis preoperatively. Surgical correction by means of resection of involved lateral anastomosis with end-to-end anastomosis has been successful, eliminating future complications.