Abstract: Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with Petersen’s hernia after gastrectomy and gastrointestinal reconstruction for gastric cancer,to explore the diagnosis and treatment methods of Petersen’s hernia. Methods Eleven patients diagnosed with Petersen’s hernia admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were collected,and all patients underwent emergency surgery.The clinical manifestations,imaging features,perioperative conditions and post-treatment follow-up of these patients were analyzed and summarized. Results Seven of the 11 patients underwent small bowel reduction and blood supply was restored without bowel resection.One case was confirmed with small bowel necrosis and underwent partial small bowel resection with a length of 80cm.All 8 cases were sutured to close the Petersen space again.The patient was discharged smoothly after the operation,and no acute gastrointestinal symptoms or acute abdomen have occurred during the follow-up so far.Intraoperative exploration confirmed extensive necrosis of the small intestine in 3 cases,of which 1 case underwent subtotal small bowel resection,and the other 2 cases gave up further surgery.All three patients died within 24 hours after surgery. Conclusion Petersen’s hernia after gastric cancer surgery has acute onset,rapid progress and poor prognosis.When patients with acute abdomen are suspected of having the disease,enhanced abdominal CT and early laparotomy should be performed as soon as possible to avoid the occurrence of intestinal necrosis.

Key words: gastric cancer, gastrectomy, reconstruction of digestive tract, Petersen’s hernia