[Relationship between gastric emptying and G.I. symptoms after direct operations for esophageal varices: using double...

Gastric emptying of mixed solid and liquid meals was studied in 34 subjects (5 normal young males, 6 preoperative patients and 23 patients after direct operations for esophageal varices), using double isotope method. Operative procedures were trans-abdominal esophageal transections in 16 patients and Hassab's operations in 7 patients. As an average, gastric emptying of postoperative patients doesn't differ so much from those of two other groups. However, postoperative gastric emptying scattered widely from rapid to slow, especially in solid meal. Furthermore, postoperative gastric emptying had relations with postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms (dumping syndrome, epigastric fullness, diarrhea, body weight loss and meal volume) in direct operations for esophageal varices. There was no significant relationship between their gastric emptying and background factors (diseases, Child's classification and postoperative period). This study suggests that some factors of operative procedures might affect and determine the postoperative gastric emptying of each patient. In conclusion, some remedy of operative procedures may decrease the postoperative G.I. symptoms after direct operations for esophageal varices.