[The postoperative stomach carcinoma]

Carcinoma in the operated stomach, a special form of gastric carcinoma, is seen as a late complication of gastric surgery performed in the carcinoma-free stomach. In the presented experimental series a considerable number of carcinomas were observed, for the first time, in rats after gastric sugery without additional application of a carcinogen. The rate of malignancies arising in the operated stomach correlates closely with mode and intensity of the duodenogastric reflux provoked by different surgical procedures, whereby the important role of duodenogastric reflux in the origin and growth of operation sequel carcinoma is established beyond doubt. Observing the coutious reservations needed for transferring experimental results to human conditions, this study may exemplify the value of reflux-preventing techniques in surgical management of gastric diseases. Patients who have undergone an operation have an increased risk of developing carcinoma, and therefore consequent and regular follow-up examinations are necessary. Introduction of surgical prophylaxis and careful postoperative surveillance are the only effective methods for the prevention of operation sequel carcinoma in the stomach.