[Diagnosis and treatment of functional delayed gastric emptying after gastrectomy]

To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of functional delayed gastric emptying(FDGE) after gastrectomy.

From 1998 to 2003, clinical data of 224 patients undergone gastrectomy were analyzed retrospectively.

Nine of 224 patients (4%) had FDGE from three days to ten days (average 7.2 days) after operation. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical features,gastric contrast examination and gastroscope. The incidence of FDGE was 6.1% in the patients treated with Billroth II gastroenterostomy, which was higher than that with Billroth I gastroenterostomy (1.8%). Eight patients were cured by palliative treatment with recovery time from 9 to 56 days (average 22 days), but one patient died of severe pulmonary infection.

FDGE is a common and early complication after gastrectomy, PDGE is more likely to occur in patients with Billroth II gastroenterostomy. Diagnosis can be confirmed by barium meal examination of gastrointestinal tract and gastroscopy. PDGE can be mostly cured by palliative treatment.