Decreased galactose absorption in dumping after colon interposition

Intestinal absorption was examined using an oral galactose test in colon interposition patients with dumping (no. 4) and without symptoms (no. 5). Normal subjects (no. 5), and patients after total gastrectomy (no. 7) and gastric resection (no. 4) served as controls. Galactose is absorbed in the same way as glucose, but does not stimulate insulin secretion. Colon interposition patients presented abnormally rapid postprandial transit and absorption for 20 minutes after the meal. After this rapid phase, colon interposition patients with dumping demonstrated a strong decrease in absorption rate, whereas the asymptomatic patients presented a normal rate during the whole follow-up period. The elimination of galactose from the blood was studied in eight patients after intravenous infusion of galactose; the disappearance was linear during 10 to 30 min after injection and did not explain the differences in blood galactose levels in the oral galactose test. We suggest a reactive reflux back to the intra-abdominal colon graft loop in the avagotonic intestinal tract as the mechanism for the differences in absorption. The most likely reason for this is the rapid initial phase transit through the coloantral anastomosis and pyloroplasty. To normalize postprandial transit and absorption as much as possible after colon interposition, a short intra-abdominal colon graft loop anastomosed to the posterior proximal stomach is suggested.