STUDY ON REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS AFTER TOTAL GASTRECTOMY

Reflux esophagitis which can occur following total gastrectomy was investigated in 49 patients after total gastrectomy. Of the 49 patients 14 patients (28.6%) had some symptoms of esophagitis and the rate of patients having complaints decreased with the postoperative lapse of time. Endoscopy revealed esophagitis in 72.7% of the patients with the symptom of esophagitis and in 23.8% of those without subjective symptoms of esophagitis. In patients with endoscopic findings of esophagitis, the duration of the intraesophageal pH of more than 7 lasted longer. Furthermore, in patients with erosion or/and ulcer, the duration of the intraesophageal pH or more than 8 lasted longer. There was no significant difference in calorie intake between patients groups with and without endoscopic findings of esophagitis, however, symptomatic patients comsumed a larger amount of dairy products.