Gastric dysfunction after vagectomy

Abstract

Summary Three patients having prolonged gastric motor dysfunction after vagectomy and gastric drainage are presented. All had preoperative pyloric obstruction. It is suggested that patients with significant pyloric obstruction are best treated by gastric resection. When this is impossible because of inflammatory changes, gastrojejunostomy alone is preferable to vagectomy and gastrojejunostomy. Reoperation for gastric dysfunction after vagectomy should seek to eliminate localized abscesses and mechanical obstruction as causative factors. Once these have been excluded, a gastrostomy for decompression and a jejunostomy for feeding should be established. The surgeon must be prepared to wait an additional three to four weeks with certain patients before effective gastric emptying resumes.