Objective evaluation of symptomatic alkaline reflux after antrectomy.

The purpose of this study was to compare the endoscopic and histologic findings in gastric mucosa, the total bile acids in the gastric contents, and the gastric emptying of a solid food in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after vagotomy and antrectomy. Eleven male patients with typical symptoms of alkaline reflux were compared to six asymptomatic patients. There were no significant differences between the groups in output or concentrations of bile acid in fasting gastric juices. Evidence for gastritis by endoscopic or histologic features was present in asymptomatic as well as symptomatic patients. Gastric emptying of radiolabeled liver was faster in the symptomatic group, but the difference was not significant. In conclusion, these tests do not distinguish between patients with symptoms of alkaline reflux and asymptomatic patients after vagotomy and antrectomy.