The Dumping Syndrome

Thursday, 03 March 2005 14:03
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This is effectively the opposite of gastroparesis: the stomach contents are
propelled too quickly into the small intestine before they have undergone the necessary digestive processes.

It is an uncommon condition, usually seen after gastric surgery (which may
damage the system that controls digestion) or in a rare condition,
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (extreme peptic ulcer disease and gastrin-secreting
tumours of the pancreas).

Excessively rapid delivery of a meal into the small intestine (jejunum) stimulates an exaggerated hormonal response (e.g. insulin and others)

Early dumping

begins during or right after a meal

  • nausea/vomiting, bloating, diarrhoea, shortness of breath.
  • Late dumping

    Both types may be seen together in some patients.

    Diagnosis is made using blood tests, provoking the symptoms with oral loading
    dose of glucose.

    Treatment includes changing eating habits: eating several small meals a day,
    (low in carbohydrates), drinking liquids between meals not with them.

    Medication such as Ocreotide to slow the gut down may be needed in severe
    cases. (but it has side effects such as diarrhoea)