Esophageal and jejunal motor function after total gastrectomy and Roux-Y esophagojejunostomy

Emptying and peristaltic activity of the esophagus and proximal jejunum were studied using scintigraphy and fluoroscopy documented on videotape in 11 patients after total gastrectomy and Roux-Y loop reconstruction. Impaired esophageal motor function, as judged by both methods, was seen in five patients who were all 50 years of age or older. This was in contrast to the findings in a group of healthy control subjects, all over 50 years of age, in whom esophageal function appeared normal on scintigraphy in five of seven. Disturbed jejunal function, as judged by radiography, was found in eight patients, whereas the emptying rate according to scintigraphy was judged normal in all but two patients. Five of the patients complained of various adverse alimentary tract symptoms, but the scintigraphic and radiographic findings did not correlate with these symptoms.