Gastric emptying time, not enterogastric reflux, is related to symptoms after upper gastrointestinal/biliary surgery.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that symptoms from bile reflux gastritis are related to the frequency and degree of enterogastric reflux (EGR).


METHODS
Patients with history of upper gastrointestinal surgery or cholecystectomy as well as control patients were studied. Presence of EGR, degree of EGR, and gastric bile emptying time were assessed and quantified via 99mTC scintillation imaging and then compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.


RESULTS
Patients with vagotomy and pyloroplasty, Billroth I, Billroth II, and cholecystectomy demonstrated statistically higher degrees of EGR compared with controls. Although asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with a history of upper gastrointestinal or biliary surgery demonstrated no statistically significant differences between incidence of EGR and degree of EGR, there was a statistically significant difference in gastric emptying time.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed gastric emptying time, not frequency or extent of EGR, was associated with the symptoms of bile reflux in patients who had previous upper gastrointestinal or biliary operations.
Stavraka
Anastasia
A
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Athens Medical School, Aretaieon Hospital, Greece.
Madan
Atul K
AK
Frantzides
Constantine T
CT
Apostolopoulos
Dimitris
D
Vlontzou
Evangelia
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004383:Duodenogastric Reflux / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D014628:Vagotomy / Q000009:adverse effects
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals