A jejunal pouch as substitute stomach after total gastrectomy. An experimental study in rats.

Eight totally gastrectomized rats with a jejunal pouch and nine without a pouch were compared with regard to post-operative intake of food, body weight, haemoglobin concentration, and length of survival. Nine animals subjected to partial gastrectomy with the forestomach intact were used for comparison. (1) After total gastrectomy there was no significant difference between the postoperative course in rats with and without a jejunal pouch. (2) Animals with the forestomach intact showed a significantly better nutritional status and longer survival, indicating an important function of this 'ideal food pouch'. (3) The normal controls survived longer than any of the other groups, probably also demonstrating the importance of the secretory function of the stomach.