Gastrointestinal symptoms after colon interposition.

To assess gastrointestinal symptoms after colon interposition, 12 patients with colon interposition for malign disease and 33 for benign esophageal disease were interviewed. A 7-day diary, including time of eating and gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by patients during and between meals, was kept by every patient. The observations of the interview and diary were compared. No patient had swallowing difficulties or heartburn. All could also eat solid foods; 24% had no gastrointestinal gastrointestinal symptoms during follow-up. Regurgitation, vomiting, and dumping symptoms were common, being observed in 22, 31, and 18% of the cases. There were no differences with these symptoms between patients with anti- or isoperistaltic colon grafts. The information from interviews agrees with the information recorded in the diaries. We conclude that various degree reflux symptoms are common after colon interposition, being experienced by almost half of the patients.