Gastric juice factors after Roux-Y reconstruction compared with Billroth II partial gastrectomy

Gastric juice was studied in five patients after Billroth II partial gastrectomy, in six patients after Roux-Y reconstruction, and in eight healthy control subjects. Juice was obtained over a 24 hour period by hourly nasogastric aspiration prior to measurement of pH, total and stable N nitrosocompounds, nitrites, bile acids (total and free), and bacterial count. Large variations in almost all compounds were seen during the 24 hour period in individual patients, and in addition, there were large variations between patients within the clinical groups. The gastric juice pH concentration was higher in the Billroth II group, as was the bacterial flora count (median 3 X 10(6) organisms/ml). Although Roux-Y bile diversion reduced the exposure to bile acids, it did not prevent it, and bacterial proliferation was increased (1 X 10(7) organisms/ml). No significant differences or sizeable trends were seen in N nitrosocompounds or nitrite concentrations.