Total gastrectomy causes a sustained, long-term elevation of somatostatin in plasma, independent of the mode of reconstruction in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The long-term effects of gastrectomy and various reconstructions of the gastrointestinal tract on fasting plasma levels of gastrointestinal hormones known to contribute to the control of gastrointestinal motor function were evaluated in pigs.


METHODS
Domestic pigs were randomly selected to sham surgery or total gastrectomy (TG) followed by reconstruction with oesophago-jejunostomy on a Roux-en-Y loop (OJRY), jejunal interposition between the oesophagus and the duodenum (OJD), or an oesophagojejunostomy with a proximal jejunal pouch reservoir (J-pouch) on a Roux-en-Y loop. Blood was collected just before surgery and ten weeks later and peptide levels were analysed by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Somatostatin levels were sustained at a high level after TG, regardless of the mode of reconstruction, but were significantly lower in sham-operated animals. Levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neurotensin and motilin were unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
TG by itself leads to high levels of somatostatin long term, however, somatostatin, motilin, neurotensin and VIP are unaffected by the mode of reconstruction.
Department of Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. ulrika.smedh@med.lu.se
Ulrika
U
Smedh
Lars
L
Hansson
Rolf
R
Ekman
Thomas
T
Zilling
D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D000818:Animals; D039021:Colonic Pouches; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004386:Duodenum / Q000601:surgery; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011178:Postgastrectomy Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood*; D013552:Swine
D013004:Somatostatin