[Nutritional status and quality of life following gastrectomy]

The nutritional status of 18 patients after total gastrectomy was recorded by anthropometric measures, serum protein and immunological investigations. 15 patients underwent gastrectomy due to carcinoma, the others due to benign diseases. Those patients with carcinoma had been free of signs of malignancy for at least 6 months. According to the elected criteria no patient had a normal nutritional status, there were slight to moderate disturbances of the protein metabolism. By mass reduction the body of the gastrectomised patients had adapted to the decreased intake of protein and calories. In this way the body reaches a new balance and remains efficient. The quality of life of most gastroectomised patients is satisfactory. It depends on the incidence of alimentary complaints and the ability of intake of sufficient food. On the basis of these results there are no serious arguments against Graham's oesophagojejunostomy.