Intragastric bile acid and symptoms in patients with an intrathoracic stomach after oesophagectomy.

Bile acid concentration and symptoms were evaluated in 24 patients after total oesophagectomy and gastric pull-up. Patients were randomly allocated to receive pyloroplasty or not. After operation all were followed for a minimum of 6 months. Bile acid concentration in the gastric juice was estimated. The mean(s.d.) bile acid concentration 6 months after surgery was similar in patients with and without pyloroplasty (34.9(30.1) and 25.0(24.2) mg/dl respectively). Postprandial discomfort and bilious eructations were the two most commonly observed symptoms in both groups. Other features noted were vomiting, anaemia and anorexia. These did not however seem to be related to intragastric bile acid concentration of individual patients in either group and occurred irrespective of whether pyloroplasty was performed or not.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes