Outcome of revisional gastric surgery using a Roux-en-Y biliary diversion

One hundred and seven patients with postoperative reflux gastritis treated by Roux-en-Y biliary diversion were reviewed. Three patients died in the postoperative period, and 16 others have since died; cardiorespiratory disease was the most frequent cause of death. Seventy-nine patients were interviewed at a median of 5.5 years (range 0.5-26 years) following Roux-en-Y diversion. At review, a satisfactory result by modified Visick grading was present in 47 per cent of patients. Bilious vomiting (P less than 0.001), food vomiting (P less than 0.01), the severity of upper abdominal pain (P less than 0.001) and heartburn (P less than 0.025) were significantly improved by Roux-en-Y diversion. Weight, haemoglobin levels and employment status were not significantly altered by the procedure. Outcome was related to the surgery preceding Roux-en-Y diversion with significantly better results after partial gastrectomy compared with truncal vagotomy and drainage (P less than 0.01), cholecystectomy (P less than 0.05), or combinations of these procedures (P less than 0.01). Outcome was not predicted by sex, preoperative symptoms, smoking status, consultant surgeon, length of Roux-en-Y or 99Tc-Sn-2,6-di-ethylacetanilidoiminodiacetate (HIDA) scanning results.