SYMPTOMS AND PATIENTS' ADJUSTMENT AFTER SUBTOTAL GASTRECTOMY

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
One hundred patients were studied before and one year after elective subtotal gastrectomy for peptic ulcer. The group as a whole worked more regularly after operation. Twenty-one patients did not work or did no steady work after gastrectomy but most of these had had a poor work record before surgery. Older patients were inclined to retire or do only odd jobs after operation. About a third of all patients took lower paying jobs. Fifty-six patients indicated that fatigue and weakness appeared or increased after operation. Many complained that these symptoms interfered with work or social activities. Dumping symptoms were common (50%) in this series but were severe in only 3 cases. Restriction of food intake to avoid dumping symptoms may account for the weakness and weight loss many patients showed. Following gastrectomy, 21 patients had symptoms after drinking milk, 19 after eating sweets. Only one patient developed a marginal ulcer during the follow-up period and patients saw doctors for gastrointestinal symptoms much less frequently after gastrectomy than before. At follow-up, 21 patients presented new complaints not referable to the gastrointestinal tract. These usually seemed to have an organic basis.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: