Analysis of esophageal reflux after proximal gastrectomy measured by wireless ambulatory 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring and TC-99m diisopropyliminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) scan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Reflux is one of the most common sequela after proximal gastrectomy (PG). The aim of this study was to find a predicting factor related to the character of esophageal reflux after PG. METHODS: Wireless ambulatory 24-hr pH monitoring (for acid reflux, AR) and diisopropyliminodiacetic acid hepatobiliary scan (for bile reflux, BR) were performed on 24 patients who had reflux symptoms after PG with esophagogastrostomy from July 2008 to March 2009. Endoscopic examination was done and the length of remnant stomach (LoRS) was measure by postoperative UGI series. RESULTS: Eleven patients (45.8%) had only BR, 7 (29.2%) had AR only, Two patients (8.3%) had both acid and BR, and 3 (12.5%) had neither. The LoRS along greater curvature was significantly shorter in patients with only BR (16.11 +/- 2.87 cm) than in patients with only AR (23.69 +/- 6.15 cm, P = 0.003). Severity of symptoms or esophagitis was not significantly correlated with the content of acid or BR. CONCLUSION: Reflux symptom after PG is caused by either bile or acid rather than both. Character of reflux was related to the LoRS.

Predictors of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery: a multivariate analysis of risk factors comparing gastric bypass, gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for gallstone formation in the general population have been well studied while those after weight reduction surgery are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for the development of symptomatic gallstones after bariatric surgery. METHOD: Retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between 2004 and 2006. Statistical evaluation was performed using a univariate and multivariate analysis. Risk factors, including age, gender, preoperative body mass index (BMI), BMI > 45 kg/m(2), diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, types of operation, and weight loss >25% of original weight, were analyzed for their association with postoperative symptomatic gallstones formation. RESULTS: 670 laparoscopic RYGBP, 47 LAGB, and 79 LSG were performed in our institute. Preoperative gallbladder disease, as indicated by presence of gallstones or sludge on preoperative transabdominal ultrasound, or previous cholecystectomy, were found in 25.3, 14.9, and 30.4% of patients who subsequently had RYGBP, LAGB, and LSG, respectively. A total of 586 patients were included for analysis. Mean follow-up was 25.9 (range 12-42) months. Overall rate of symptomatic gallstone formation was 7.8% and mean time for its development was 10.2 (range 2-37) months. Incidence of symptomatic gallstones with complications as initial presentation was found in 1.9% of the patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that only postoperative weight loss of more than 25% of original weight was associated with symptomatic gallstones formation [B = 1.482, SE = 0.533, odds ratio 4.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.549-12.498, p = 0.005]. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional risk factors for gallstone formation in the general population are not predictive of symptomatic gallstone formation after bariatric surgery. Weight loss of more than 25% of original weight was the only postoperative factor that can help selecting patients for postoperative ultrasound surveillance and subsequent cholecystectomy once gallstones were identified.

Retained gastric antrum syndrome diagnosed by [99mTc] pertechnetate scintiphotography in man: hormonal and radioisotopic study of two cases.

Retained-antrum syndrome is a rare condition, occurring in Billroth II gastrectomised patients, in which an ulcer recurs associated with high levels of circulating gastrin. Some gastrin tests are useful to differentiate a retained antrum from a gastrinoma, but a firm diagnosis is sometimes very difficult. We have studied two cases of retained-antrum syndrome both by gastrin tests and by [99mTc] pertechnetate scintiphotography. By this method a prominent area of activity was observed on the anatomic site of the duodenal stump bottom. It appeared after 20 or 30 min and lasted for the 2 hr of observation. After surgical resection, no area of activity was observed at the scintiphotographic followup. No false positive was observed out of the more than 30 subjects studied. Scintiphotography by pertechnetate seems able to demonstrate the presence and the size of retained gastric antrum in B II gastrectomised patients with recurrent ulcer.

Assessment of gastric motility using meal labeled with technetium-99m sulfur colloid.

During a 2 year period, 83 patients with gastric motility problems were evaluated using radionuclide imaging. The patients presented with epigastric distress, postprandial fullness, pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; signs and symptoms suggestive of either gastroparesis or gastric outlet obstruction. Upper gastrointestinal series or endoscopy, or both, demonstrated no mechanical obstruction. After oral administration of a 300 g meal labeled with 600 muCi of technetium-99m sulfur colloid, a gastric emptying study consisting of serial images and data acquisition was performed. Of the patients studied, 52 had had peptic ulcer surgery, 17 were suspected of having gastroesophageal reflux, 8 were diabetic and suspected of having visceral enteropathy, and 6 had a history of irritable bowel syndrome. The normal mean gastric half emptying time was 77 +/- 16 minutes. Of the patients who had had gastric surgery, 90.4 percent had abnormal emptying: 69.2 percent had delayed gastric emptying and 21.2 percent had rapid gastric emptying time; 9.6 percent had normal emptying time. Of the gastroesophageal reflux group, all but two had normal gastric emptying time; 65 percent demonstrated gastroesophageal reflux within 15 minutes. Two of the patients with irritable bowel syndrome had prolonged emptying; the rest had normal emptying. All diabetic patients with gastroparesis had prolonged gastric emptying time, and all responded favorably to metoclopramide. Of the patients who previously had peptic ulcer surgery and had prolonged emptying time, 72 percent also responded favorably to metoclopramide. We conclude that radionuclide gastric imaging is a useful diagnostic test for the measurement of gastric emptying in patients with a variety of gastrointestinal motility disorders and may be helpful in assessing medical therapy and selecting those who may be candidates for surgery.

[The effectiveness of Braun's anastomosis in Billroth II surgery. The role of hepatobiliary sequence scintigraphy (HBSS) in the diagnosis of bile flow following stomach resection]. / Zur Effektivität der Braunschen Fusspunktanastomose bei der Operation nach Billroth II. Stellenwert der hepatobiliären Sequenzszintigraphie (HBSS) bei der Diagnostik des Galleflusses nach Magenresektion.

After resection of the stomach the alkaline reflux of the duodenal contents into the residual stomach is a major factor to be taken into consideration when assessing the causes leading to irregularities of the mucosal barrier. Illnesses that may arise subsequent to gastric surgery are gastritis of the resected stomach, inflammation of the anastomosis, anastomotic ulcers and--with reservations--anastomotic carcinoma. In view of these clinical pictures, a protective function for the biliary system is ascribed to Braun's entero-anastomosis. With the aid of hepatobiliary sequence scintigraphy (HBSS) a functional analysis was obtained from 30 patients, subsequent to gastric surgery--after Billroth II with entero-anastomosis--which showed a surprisingly high rate of reflux into the residual stomach, in 16 out of these 30 patients. The high-grade HBSS data with regard to the biliary reflux proportions after gastric surgery and the low-grade effectiveness of Braun's entero-anastomosis are clearly evidenced.

[Radiological and clinical aspects of resection of the cardia]. / Radiologische und klinische Aspekte nach Kardiaresektion

Following resection of the cardia, problems may arise during two phases; in these, clinical and radiological examination may be required. Immediately after the operation one is concerned particularly with checking the incision or the extent and localisation of suture abnormalities. In the late post-operative period the problems are different. In addition to a description of the anatomy at the proximal and distal ends of the stomach, it is necessary to estimate functional conditions, such as passage through the anastomosis and the pylorus, the reservoir function of the gastric remnant and gastro-oesophageal reflux. An important task is to demonstrate tumour recurrence. For this purpose endoscopic, biopsy and cytological examinations are required.

[Demonstration of postgastrectomy bile reflux by hepatobiliary sequential scintigraphy]. / Nachweis von Gallereflux nach Gastrektomie mit der hepatobiliären Sequenzszintigraphie (HBSS).

After gastrectomy and jejunal interposition by the Longmire technique, symptoms due to alkaline reflux oesophagitis may occur, which are caused by duodeno-jejunal and jejuno-oesophageal bile reflux. Twenty-seven patients who had gastrectomies performed for malignant tumours one to three years previously were examined by hepatobiliary sequential scintigraphy in order to see whether this is able to demonstrate bile reflux. In addition to endoscopies, biopsies and radiological examinations, 45 sequential scintigrams were carried out. Agreement of results during routine use was investigated for five observers. There were considerable variations in results amongst different observers. Nevertheless, in four out of the five observers, there was a significant correlation with the clinical findings (p less than 0.05). Only by using functional scintigraphy with digital data recording is it possible to demonstrate or exclude bile reflux with any degree of certainty. Eight out of twelve patients with marked symptoms, and four out of 28 without symptoms showed reflux into the interposed segment (correlation 0.7, p greater than 0.05). Patients with symptoms showed a high incidence of oesophagitis by the above-mentioned methods (correlation (0.52, p greater than 0.05). Correlation between the results of barium meals and clinical findings was considerably less (0.25) and was not significant. Sequential scintigraphy is therefore better for clarifying reflux symptoms than radiological examination or endoscopy and biopsy.

[Scintigraphic image of bile reflux following gastric and intestinal surgery]. / Szintigraphische Darstellung des Gallenrefluxes nach Magen- und Darmoperationen.

Bile reflux may occur after a variety of reconstructive procedures in the gastro-intestinal tract and biliary system. The present paper deals with reflux into the duodenum, jejunum, stomach, oesophagus and into blind loops. The demonstration of reflux by 99mTc labelled IDA acid derivatives, and a possible quantitative approach, are discussed. The advantages of an isotope method are: 1. Direct demonstration of bile reflux without any intervention in the physiological process and with little trouble to the patient, 2. The ability to use the method for various reconstructive procedures and 3. The additional information obtained which may help in the differential diagnosis of blind loops, biliary obstructions, cholecystitis or liver metastases if there has been a gastrectomy for a malignant tumour. In combination with a second administration of a radio-isotope tracer, one may be able to demonstrate abnormalities in the motility of the stomach or gut, or pyloric stenosis or gastro-oesophageal reflux.

[Radiological follow-up of anastomotic insufficiency following partial esophageal resections or gastrectomies. The effects of barium-containing contrast media]. / Radiologische Kontrolle von Anastomoseninsuffizienzen nach Osophagusteilresektionen oder Gastrektomien. Effekte bariumhaltiger Kontrastmittel.

Fistulae after abdomino-thoracic operations are usually treated conservatively because of the high complication rate of repeated surgery. If the anastomoses function adequately, healing usually occurs spontaneously after four to six weeks. Amongst 271 patients with intrathoracic oesophago-gastric or oesophago-jejunal anastomoses, entero-cutaneous fistulae occurred 29 times. Extension of the fistula into the pleura or peritoneum was first excluded by using an absorbable contrast medium and then a barium contrast examination was carried out. Thoracic fistulae closed, on average, after 21.8 days and fistulae in the upper abdomen after 20.3 days. Barium sulphate stimulates granulation tissue in the fistula and therefore leads to more rapid obliteration. This improves the quality of the patient's life and reduced the time the patient has to spend in hospital. There were no local or systematic complications.

[The value of barium double-contrast study in the aftercare of gastrectomy patients (Roux-Y)]. / Stellenwert der Barium-Doppelkontrast-Untersuchung in der Nachsorge von Gastrektomierten (Roux-Y).

We evaluated 32 patients who had undergone jejuno-oesophagostomy for gastric carcinoma. Double contrast radiography was performed 3 to 36 months after gastrectomy, 3 to 14 days prior to routine endoscopy. Endoscopy is superior to double contrast radiography in detecting tumour recurrence, particularly in small tumours, due to the possibility of biopsy. Double contrast radiography is excellent in demonstrating the afferent loop. We found a high number of jejuno-oesophageal reflux and very different small intestine transit times without correlation to clinical signs and symptoms.

Scintigraphic evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux following gastrectomy.

We used scintigraphy to detect and quantify gastro-esophageal reflux, and determined the sensitivity of this method for identifying patients with clinical symptoms and/or endoscopic evidence of reflux. Thirty gastrectomy patients with heartburn and regurgitation, and 8 healthy controls were studied. The gastro-esophageal reflux index, calculated from imaging data, correlated significantly with the symptom score of the subjects, and the index was significantly larger in the symptomatic patients group (7.07 +/- 1.21) than in the healthy control group (1.54 +/- 0.22) (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that scintiscanning is capable of detecting gastro-esophageal reflux accurately, rapidly, noninvasively, and with a high degree of sensitivity. In addition, scintiscanning can be employed to quantify reflux in gastrectomy patients.

A composite score of enterogastric reflux quantitation on 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Enterogastric reflux of bile, and duodenal and pancreatic secretions may occur either spontaneously or, more commonly, after gastric surgery. The most reliable method in discriminating symptomatic from asymptomatic postgastric surgery refluxers, and in predicting a good clinical result after surgical diversion in the former group, is the quantitation of reflux by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 28 normal subjects and 143 postgastric surgery patients, the enterogastric reflux (EGR) was demonstrated by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy on 230 occasions. The EGR index was quantitated according to two different formulae: the former one based on the amount of refluxate (percentage of maximal radioactivity of the gastric area over the total abdominal activity--EGR-Im) and the latter one based on the amount and the duration of the time of reflux (CompEGR-Im) and representing the area of the surface below the curve, which was yield by plotting EGR-Im values (obtained every 5 min for one hour) against time. RESULTS: Although there was a highly significant correlation of values between the two methods (p<0.0000001), the latter one was more reliable in classifying postgastric surgery patients according to the presence of reflux symptoms and the reflux index. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a CompEGRpIm>770 and postgastric surgery symptoms, at least some of the symptoms can be safely be attributed to enterogastric reflux.

[Recurrent ulcer after gastric resection]. / Le recidive ulcerose dopo resezione gastrica

A retrospective study was made of 34 cases of recurrent ulcer following gastric resection. Males, especially above the age of 40, were shown to be particularly susceptible. The intact vagus apparently plays the most important role in the pathogenesis. Radiological examination and endoscopy are of the greatest diagnostic importance. Truncal vagotomy must be regarded as the treatment of choice in uncomplicated recurrent ulcer. Resection procedures are indicated in perforating ulcer, gastrojejunocolic fistula, antral residues and ZES.

[Radiological and clinical considerations on the behavior of the interposed jejunal loop in partial and total gastric resection]. / Considerazioni radiologiche e cliniche sul comportamento dell'ansa digiunale interposta nelle resezioni gastriche parziali e totali.

A personal series of 102 cases (in five years) where the interposed loop was employed in gastric and duodenal surgery is presented. The behaviour of the transposed jejunal segment is discussed on the basis of radiological study using direct videography.

Technetium-99m serum albumin measurement of gastrointestinal protein loss in a subtotal gastrectomy patient with giant hypertrophic gastritis.

Gastrointestinal protein loss was measured using Tc-99m labeled human serum albumin in a patient with giant hypertrophic gastritis. Gastric secretion was aspirated via a nasogastric tube and measured for radioactivity after intravenous injection of Tc-99m albumin. Assessment of radioactivity of the collected gastric secretion yielded a total radiocount of 98.7 kilocounts per minute within 6 hours, which is equivalent to 1.1% of the total dose. Therefore, at least 1.1% of the circulating albumin was excreted into the gastric cavity within 6 hours, and, since simultaneous abdominal imaging did not demonstrate obvious accumulation of tracer in the gastrointestinal tract, protein loss was thought to be due to giant gastric rugae of the resected stomach. It was concluded that Tc-99m albumin is a valuable means for detection of the site of protein loss in patients with protein-losing gastroenteropathy. This method has several advantages in the clinical setting; it is less time consuming, easy to perform, and provides quantitative and qualitative assessment of protein loss.

[Results of stomach resection with Roux gastrojejunostomy for gastroduodenal ulcers]. / Ergebnisse der Magenresektion mit Gastrojejunostomie nach Roux wegen gastroduodenaler Ulcera.

In a follow-up study operative risk, postoperative functional disorders and incidence of anastomotic (recurrent) ulcer after partial gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy for gastroduodenal ulcer were evaluated in 52 patients. Lethality for elective treatment was 0 and for emergency surgery (ulcer bleeding) 16.7%. 29.5% of the patients reported postoperative functional disorders. Because Roux-en-Y reconstruction prevented duodenogastric reflux, intragastric pH was low (median 2.2) and in the absence of ulcer protective, neutralizing reflux anastomotic ulcer occurred in 15.9% of the patients. With regard to the high rate of recurrent ulcer Roux-en-Y reconstruction after partial gastrectomy for primary ulcer surgery should be avoided and reconstruction procedures preferred, which guarantee duodenogastric reflux.

[Use of a new method for the determination of the duodeno- and jejunogastral reflux after gastric surgery]. / Die Anwendung einer neuen Methode zur Bestimmung des duodeno- und jejunogastralen Reflux nach Magenoperationen. Vorläufige Mitteilung.

The use of hepato-biliary sequential scintigraphy with 99mTechnetium as a new method to demonstrate duodenogastric or jejunogastric reflux is described. In contrast to other techniques, the benefit of minimal stress for patients, routine practice, and combined measurement of fasting and postprandial reflux is pointed out. First clinical studies in postoperative patients are presented and it is accentuated, that this technique has a special field of application in gastric surgery.

[Alkaline gastritis. Gastric reoperations]. / Gastritis alcalina. Reoperaciones gástricas.

The authors present 23 cases (1.6%) of reoperated patients with alkaline gastritis syndrome at Dr. Bonorino Udaondo National Gastroenterology Hospital. Over 1400 surgical operations performed in order to treat the gastroduodenal ulcer disease; 19 patients showed an evident syndrome of alkaline gastritis and the rest of cases had a mixed syndrome, because of another syndromes. The initial operation was a gastric resection Billroth II type in 22 cases and the rest are had a vagotomy with a gastroenterostomy. In all the cases, clinical, radiological, laboratory, endoscopy and histopathology aspects as well as Kay and Hollander test were studied. The modified surgical operations were: Soupault-Bucaille with isoperistaltic loop (7 cases), with anisoperistaltic loop Poth type (1 case), reoperations with the Y en Roux technique (14 cases), desgastroenterostomy, closing of the jejunal and gastric drainage and pyloroplasty (1 case). It was fulfilled with a vagotomy. The 50% of the cases have to 8 years after the operation; another were reexamined at 100 and 15 years being without symptoms.

Alkaline reflux esophagitis in gastroresected patients. Objective detection with a simple isotope method.

The incidence and severity of alkaline reflux esophagitis occurring in 1129 gastroresected patients were evaluated. As far as the incidence of esophagitis are concerned, no significant difference was found after Billroth I or Billroth II type resection. Severe esophagitis developed in 62.6 per cent of patients with total gastrectomy, but never occurred when a long limb Roux-en-Y anastomosis was also performed. The majority of esophagitis was recognized within the first year after resection, so it might be supposed that not only operative procedure itself but the postoperative care period might be responsible for the development of esophagitis. It can be avoided and treated by Roux-en-Y anastomosis. Scintigraphy is a simple rapid method in the detection of gastroesophageal reflux, thus patients can be selected by it for further invasive investigation.

[Study of postgastrectomy fatty liver].

Fatty liver was often found concomitantly by the ultrasound during the follow up study of the gastric cancer operation. By ultrasound, development of postgastrectomy fatty liver was seen in 29 out of 176 patients (16.5%) with several gastrectomies. The number of the patients with postgastrectomy fatty liver was 12 out of 104 patients (11.5%) with distal partial gastrectomy with B-I reconstruction, while that was 17 of 72 patients (23.6%) with total gastrectomy with several reconstructions. The incidence of postoperative fatty liver change was significantly higher in the patients under 59 years old compared to the elders. Seventy-five g oral glucose test induced oxyhyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in patients with gastrectomy, especially with total gastrectomy. Integrated plasma insulin and triglyceride responses during first one hour in postgastrectomy patients were significantly higher than preoperative values. Moreover, plasma insulin and blood sugar in response to oral glucose test were significantly higher in patients with postgastrectomy fatty liver, compared to those in patients without fatty liver. These results suggested that the postgastrectomy fatty liver was resulted from the abnormality of the glucose metabolism.