Measurement of superior mesenteric artery flow by means of Doppler ultrasound in early dumping syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

Dumping occurs in about 10% of patients after gastric surgery. It has been suggested that early dumping is associated with an abnormal increase in postprandial splanchnic flow, but data from controlled studies are lacking. Therefore we have studied basal and postprandial superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow in patients with dumping and in two control groups.

METHODS

Three groups were studied, one group of patients after gastric surgery with early dumping (n = 6), one surgical control group with patients after gastric surgery without dumping symptoms (n = 7), and a healthy control group without previous gastric surgery (n = 10). Blood glucose and heart rate were measured after dumping provocation by oral ingestion of 50 g glucose. SMA blood flow was measured both basally and 20 min after glucose ingestion.

RESULTS

Basal SMA flow was similar in the three groups. After glucose ingestion SMA flow was not significantly different between dumping patients and surgical controls. However, stimulated SMA flow in both groups after gastric surgery combined was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

The systemic symptoms associated with early dumping do not result from increased SMA blood flow per se. After gastric surgery patients have an increased postprandial SMA flow irrespective of the presence of dumping.