Abstract
This paper aims at assessing the diagnostic value of measuring the acid secretion of the stomach in gastrectomized patients in whom there is suspicion of a recurrent ulcer. Eighty male patients who had been operated on for a duodenal ulcer by simple gastrectomy were studied. In every gastrectomized patient with abdominal epigastric symptoms a study of the secretions of the gastric stump should be carried out, in addition to radiography and gastroscopy, even if the clinical features are not typical of a recurrent ulcer. Almost 25% of the patients with proved anastomotic ulcer had a history which was not very suggestive of a new ulcer. Gastrectomized patients whose maximal acid output (MAO) value exceeds 13 mEq/hr should in principle be regarded as having an anastomotic ulcer. Gastrectomized patients whose MAO values are between 5 and 13 mEq/hr may have a recurrent ulceration but it is also possible that the anastomosis tolerates this acidity without an ulcer forming. Gastrectomized patients with MAO values below 5 mEq/hr are not suspect of having a recurrent ulcer although this cannot be completely excluded. Basal acid output exceeding 5 mEq/hr was only found in patients with an anastomotic ulcer.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 261-268 |
Journal | Revista Espanola de las Enfermedades del Aparato Digestivo |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1974 |