Dumping syndrome - what is it?

Resection of the stomach is the removal of part of the body, for example, in connection with peptic ulcer. Getting rid of one problem (stomach disease), after the operation you can buy another. One of such consequences may be dumping syndrome, which is associated with too rapid intake of food from the stomach into the intestines. This is due to the fact that now the body has lost its reservoir function.

Normally there is a gatekeeper between the stomach and intestines, which ensures the gradual intake (by portions) of the contents into the lower parts of the digestive tract. However, after the operation, a large amount of food passes into the intestine at once, it can not cope with such a load, the sympathetic nervous system is activated (hyperactivity syndrome), which leads to disruption of the heart and a decrease in total pressure.

Dumping syndrome, clinical manifestations

The first symptoms appear soon after the operation. An early and late dumping syndrome can be observed.

After ingestion of food into the stomach, it quickly passes into the jejunum, as a result of which the osmotic and reflex influence is disturbed. In order for the nutrients to absorb, the blood pours to the intestine, it happens so quickly that the volume of circulating fluid in the vessels decreases and the pressure decreases. This is how the early dumping syndrome develops. All symptoms can be divided into several groups, among which common manifestations are weakness and fatigue. Also observed vasomotor disorders, consisting of palpitation, headache, dizziness, fainting. Intestinal manifestations are nausea and vomiting.

Late dumping syndrome develops due to a sharp intake of glucose into the bloodstream and a response to insulin production. As a result, there is reddening of the face, trembling in the hands and feet, a sharp weakness, a strong sense of hunger, and after the end of the attack - a sense of weakness.

By severity, the syndrome can be mild, moderate and severe.

If a person does not consult a doctor, suffering from a syndrome for a long time, this can result in exhaustion and a strong violation of metabolic processes.

Dumping syndrome, diagnosis

The diagnosis can be made based on typical complaints of the patient, and also on the basis of a stress test, that is, to give a person to eat in the doctor's office.

In patients with severe syndrome, along with all typical symptoms, vegetative, vascular and mental disorders are observed.

Dumping syndrome, treatment

Treatment depends on the severity of the course of the syndrome. The mild degree is stopped by a diet, the general principles of which are as follows:

• The food should be frequent and fractional.
• Food should be high-calorie.
• It is necessary to exclude the consumption of carbohydrates (sweet), honey and milk.
• Food and drink should not be too cold or hot.
• After meals, lie down for about 15 minutes.
• It is allowed to drink tea, a weak drink of cocoa.
• Food should be with a high content of vitamins and trace elements.
• Nutrition is selected individually, since the syndrome can provoke certain foods.
• In the first few days of treatment, all bakery, snacks and vegetables are excluded, food is consumed only in the garbled form.

If a person has moderate-to-moderate dumping, then in addition to dieting, medication is needed. Infusions of glucose with insulin, vitamins, as well as ganglion blockers and atropine, which reduce the contractile activity of the intestine, are shown. Mental disorders are stopped by neuroleptics.

A severe form of dumping syndrome is attempted to be treated surgically. Reconstructive surgery has a positive effect in 80% of cases.

Over time, the symptoms of the disease disappear, a person's condition can improve, in which case it is possible to go to a regular dietary table.