Complications following gastric surgery in children

Although the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease may be difficult in the pediatric age group, this problem is being faced increasingly by the physicians charged with the care of these children. Chronicity of symptoms has been documented in over 50 per cent of the patients demonstrating early peptic ulcers and therefore an aggressive approach to management has been advocated. Although the numbers are small, postgastrectomy syndromes of mechanical and nutritional nature appear less common in the young patient than in adults. Satisfactory growth and development are reported in nearly all series of patients followed after various gastric procedures. Both pyloroplasty and vagotomy and vagotomy and antrectomy appear to be extraordinarily well tolerated by the pediatric patient. Experimental evidence suggests that these patients should enjoy normal growth and development.