Background : The jejunal pouch interposition between the gastric body and the duodenum after
the gastrectomy, although not frequent in the surgical practice today, has been
successfully employed for the prevention and treatment of the postgastrectomy
syndromes. In the latter, it is included the dumping syndrome, which affects
13-58% of the patients who undergo gastrectomy. Aim : Retrospective assessment of the results of this procedure for the prevention of
the dumping syndrome. Methods : Fourty patients were selected and treatetd surgically for peptic ulcer, between
1965 and 1970. Of these, 29 underwent vagotomy, antrectomy,
gastrojejunalduodenostomy at the lesser curvature level, and the 11 remaining were
submitted to vagotomy, antrectomy, gastrojejunal-duodenostomy at the greater
curvature level. The gastro-jejuno-duodenal transit was assessed in the immediate
or late postoperative with the contrasted study of the esophagus, stomach and
duodenum. The clinical evolution was assessed according to the Visick grade. Results : Of the 40 patients, 28 were followed with the contrast evaluation in the late
postoperative. Among those who were followed until the first month (n=22), 20
(90%) had slow gastro-jejuno-duodenal transit and in two (10%) the transit was
normal. Among those who were followed after the first month (n=16), three (19%)
and 13 (81%) had slow and normal gastric emptying, respectively. None had the
contrasted exam compatible with the dumping syndrome. Among the 40 patients, 22
underwent postoperative clinical evaluation. Of these, 19 (86,5%) had excellent
and good results (Visick 1 and 2, respectively). Conclusions : The jejunal pouch interposition showed to be a very effective surgical procedure
for the prevention of the dumping syndrome in gastrectomized patients.