Nutritional consequences of total gastrectomy

Nutritional status was investigated in 10 patients who had previously undergone total gastrectomy without evidence of malignancy. The ability of these patients to ingest and absorb adequate amounts of nutrients was examined. Metabolic balance studies were also performed to discover how effectively these patients could accumulate and use the absorbed nutrients. In the controlled hospital situation, the amount of food ingested was greater than the amount required for maintenance of Ideal Body Weight. Although mild malabsorption of fat and nitrogen was documented, weight gain and positive nitrogen balance occurred. In direct contrast, food intake significantly decreased when the patients returned to their home environment. While severe malabsorption may contribute to malnutrition in the individual patient, the most common mechanism responsible for postoperative malnutrition was inadequate intake. In the occasional patient with severe malabsorption, the universal demonstration of jejunal anaerobic bacterial overgrowth offers important therapeutic implications. The relative importance of pancreatico-biliary insufficiency in promoting malabsorption remains to be determined. Construction of a Hunt-Lawrence jejunal pouch was not found to favorably affect caloric intake, weight gain, degree of malabsorption, or dumping symptoms. Although some degree of malnutrition does result from total gastric resection, in most cases it is mild and potentially correctable. Avoidance of indicated total gastrectomy due to fears of progressive postoperative malnutrition is unwarranted.