[The small-intestine-stasis syndrome following side-to-side anastomosis]

This review describes the small intestine stasis syndrome after side-to-side anastomosis. Symptoms of intermittent abdominal pains with steatorrhea and loss of weight are caused by disturbance of passage with a rise in bacterial concentrations. Of 27 patients observed 15 had no disorders, while 12 had gastrointestinal symptoms which had been misinterpreted and given conservative treatment for a long time (3--22 years). Treatment is either by antibiotics or by excision of the lateral anastomosis followed by end-to-end anastomosis of the normal intestine. Special attention must be paid to the consequences of side-to-side anastomosis in childhood.