[Patient after stomach resection. What and how he should eat]

Complete or partial removal of the stomach results in considerable anatomical and physiological changes, which, in turn lead to more or less pronounced dietary problems. For this reason, patients should receive comprehensive postoperative counseling. In the majority of cases, the major problems can be avoided or symptoms ameliorated. The selection of suitable foods must be discussed, as also the particular importance of drinking. Preprandial exercise to stimulate the appetite is just as important as postprandial resting to avoid diarrhea and the dumping syndrome. A central aspect is the distribution of the food ingested over six to ten small portions. Some nutrients may need to be substituted--for example, vitamin B12, the fat-soluble vitamins, calcium and iron. With increasing time after the operation, alimentation problems usually abate, but in the individual case may persist for years.