Nutrient malassimilation after total gastrectomy and possible intervention

Malnutrition is common after total gastrectomy. Different pathophysiological reasons have been reported. We have investigated malabsorption in patients after total gastrectomy and Roux-Y esophagojejunostomy, analyzing the orocecal transit time, the bacterial flora of the upper intestine, and the small intestinal carbohydrate fermentation. Furthermore, we studied the benefit of pancreatic enzymes in this condition. The orocecal transit time was found to be short in 5/11 patients. In 4/11 patients upper intestinal bacterial overgrowth was probable. In the remaining 3/11 patients with steatorrhea, pancreatic dysfunction, due to understimulation, was suspected to be the reason for malassimilation. A subsequent double-blind, cross-over trial on supplementary treatment with pancreatic enzymes was performed in 15 patients. This treatment did not significantly reduce the degree of steatorrhea in these patients.