Postprandial gastrointestinal hormone production is different, depending on the type of reconstruction following total gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVES

The present study examines the differences in gastrointestinal hormone production at 3 different reconstruction types after total gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND DATA

Total gastrectomy causes significant weight loss, mainly due to a reduced caloric intake probably because of a lack of initiative to eat or early satiety during meals. Behind this phenomenon a disturbed gastrointestinal hormone production can be presumed.

METHODS

Patients participating in a randomized study were recruited for the clinical experiment. Seven patients with simple Roux-en-Y reconstruction, 11 with aboral pouch (AP) construction, and 10 with aboral pouch with preserved duodenal passage (APwPDP) reconstruction, as well as 6 healthy volunteers were examined. Blood samples were taken 5 minutes before and 15, 30, and 60 minutes after ingestion of a liquid test meal. Plasma concentrations for insulin, cholecystokinin, and somatostatin were determined by radioimmunoassay analysis.

RESULTS

Postprandial hyperglycemia was observed in patients after total gastrectomy most prominently in groups with duodenal exclusion (Roux-en-Y and AP) compared with healthy controls. Postprandial insulin curves reached significantly higher levels in all operated groups compared with controls, however, with no difference according to reconstruction type. Significantly higher cholecystokinin levels and higher integrated production of cholecystokinin were observed in Roux-en-Y and AP groups compared with APwPDP and control. Postprandial somatostatin levels were significantly different between the 4 groups, and highest levels and integrated secretions were reached in AP group, lowest in APwPDP and normal groups.

CONCLUSION

A disturbed glucose homeostasis was observed in gastrectomized patients most prominently in the Roux-en-Y group. Also, cholecystokinin and somatostatin response differed significantly in favor of duodenal passage preservation after total gastrectomy. Cholecystokinin levels close to physiologic found at APwPDP reconstruction may contribute to a physiologic satiation in reconstructions with preserved duodenal passage after total gastrectomy.