Published online Oct 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.iSuppl2.45
Revised: August 9, 1998
Accepted: September 4, 1998
Published online: October 15, 1998
AIM: The study was aimed at the unknown mechanisms of gastroin testinal symptoms and accompanied malnutrition in patients following partial gastrectomy.
METHODS: Thirty-six patients who had their gastric resection at least five years ago and forty-one normal controls were included in the study. Nutritional status as indicated by anthropometry measurements, glucose hydrogen breath test G-HBT) before and after antibiotic treatment and mouth-cecum trans it time (MCTT) with lactose hydrogen breath test (L-HBT) were simultaneously determined. The Student’s t test was used for statistical analysis of all the data of the study.
RESULTS: Anthropometry measurements showed that decreased values (at least 10% lower than the ideal values) of body weight (BW), triceps skinfol d thickness (TSF) and mid-arm circumference (MC) were observed in 63.2%, 94.7 % and 73.3% of the patients studied respectively. A positive result of 50g G-H HBT was seen in 10 cases out of 26 patients (38.5%) who were undertaken the test. Six of the 9 patients with negative 50 g G-HBT were positive following a 80 g G-HBT. Hydrogen excretion in six patients with positive 50 g or 80 g G-BHT were significantly decreased after antibiotic treatment. Further studies of 25 L-BHT showed a significant difference of MCTTs either between the post-gastrectomy patients with or without chronic diarrhea, or between patient and control groups, i.e. an average MCTT of 58.8, 85.7 and 105.9 min in each group.
CONCLUSION: Malnutrition was common in patients a few years aft er their gastrectomies. About forty percent of positive G-HBT, and effective antibiotic treatment and reduced MCTT determination were observed in these patients. The results suggested that bacterial overgrowth and increased small bowel transit may play a role in the development of gastrointestinal symptoms and related malnutrition in patients following gastrectomy.