Dumping syndrome: Update on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management

Dumping syndrome is a complex of gastrointestinal symptoms originally studied in peptic ulcer surgery patients. At present, it is most prevalent in patients who underwent bariatric, upper gastrointestinal cancer or anti-reflux surgery. The symptom pattern comprises early and late dumping symptoms. Several management options have been reported including nutritional, pharmacological and surgical approaches.

In this study, we aimed to review the current evidence on dumping syndrome definition, diagnosis and treatment, including preliminary data from newer pharmacological studies.

Current pathophysiological concepts and analyses of provocative tests has led to a clear definition of dumping syndrome, including both early and late dumping symptoms. The term postbariatric hypoglycemia represents a limited focus on late dumping only. The diagnosis relies on recognition of symptoms and signs in a patient with appropriate surgical history; and can be confirmed by provocative testing or registration of spontaneous hypoglycemia. The initial treatment focuses on dietary intervention, to which meal viscosity enhancers and/or the glycosidase inhibitor acarbose can be added. The most effective therapy is the use of short- or long-acting somatostatin analogues, which is however expensive and entails side effect issues. In case of refractory hypoglycemia, diazoxide or SGLT2 inhibitors can be considered, based on limited evidence. In refractory patients, continuous enteral feeding or (rarely) surgical reinterventions have been advocated, although not supported by solid evidence. Therapies under current evaluation include the broad-spectrum somatostatin analogue pasireotide, GLP-1 receptor antagonists, GLP-1 receptor agonists and administration of stable forms of glucagon are currently under study.

Dumping syndrome is a well-defined but probably under-diagnosed complication of upper gastrointestinal, especially bariatric, and surgeries. Diagnosis is confirmed by a provocative test and incremental therapies starting with diet, adding meal viscosity enhancers or glycosidase inhibitors and adding somatostatin analogues in refractory cases. A number of emerging therapies targeting intestinal propulsion, peptide hormone effects and hypoglycemic events are under evaluation.