Diagnosis and treatment of postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome after radical operation of gastric carcinoma:report of 24 cases / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the etiology,diagnosis and treatment of postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome(PGS)after radical gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma.Methods The data of 585 patients who had undergone radical gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma were retrospectively studied.The diagnosis was established with fiberoptic gastroscopy and biopsy before operation in all the patients,and radical subtotal gastrectomy was performed,with antero-colonic Billroth's Ⅱ anastomosis of the remnant stomach and jejunum.Results PGS occurred in 24 patients(age 46-81,mean 58.6 years)among 585 patients,the prevalence was 4.1%.In all the 24 patients,PGS occurred at the period when liquid diet was changed to semifluid diet,with the symptoms of epigastric fullness,nausea,vomiting and intractable hiccup.The vomitus contained large amount of gastric contents and a small amount of bile.The quantity of gastrointestinal decompression was 800-2000 ml/d.Upper gastrointestinal radiography using 38% meglucamine diatrizoate was performed in all the 24 patients,the contrast agent was taken orally or through gastric tube.It showed that the remnant stomach was atonic,gastric peristalsis was weak or absent,and evacuation of contrast agent was delayed.The anastomosis stoma was patent.Gastroscopy was performed in 18 patients,and a large amount of residual gastric content and anatomotic edema of anastomosis stoma were found.Howener,the gastroscope could be introenced into the duodenum or jejunal efferent loop through anastomotic stoma without difficulty,and no signs of mechanical obstruction were found.All the 18 patients were cured within10-38 days by conservative treatment.Conclusion The main causes of PGS may be the loss of gastrointestinal motility and anastomotic edema,while the risk factors may include old age,malnutrition,water-electrolyte imbalance,and peritoneal infection.Gastrointestinal radiography and gastroscopy are important diagnostic methods,and the patients can be cured by conservative treatment.