title: Leaks and obstruction after gastric resection.
abstract: Postoperative gastric retention may be minimized by avoiding the use of the Billroth I reconstruction when a large duodenal ulcer must be retained. Postoperative gastric retention is more likely to remit with conservative therapy if the procedure was a Billroth I reconstruction with a vagotomy. In other instances where there is difficulty in gastric emptying, a mechanical cause should be strongly suspected. The optimum duration of a conservative trial with suction for postoperative gastric retention may be debatable, and contrast radiography or endoscopy may be helpful; however, patience and suction are not long-term substitutes for a needed operation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology*; D014628:Vagotomy