Saturday, 7 May 2011

Dumping syndrome after peptic ulcer surgery

A 44-year-old man with a history of peptic ulcer surgery presents with palpitations, tachycardia, lightheadedness, and diaphoresis after eating a meal. The symptoms typically begin 30 min after eating.Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
  • a.Malabsorption
  • b.Peptic ulcer recurrence
  • c.Gastric carcinoma
  • d.Gastritis
  • e.Dumping syndrome
  • f.Esophagitis

The answer is (e).



Some patients with a history of ulcer surgery experience the dumping syndrome 30 min after eating. They present with palpitations, tachycardia, lightheadedness, and diaphoresis after eating a meal due to the rapid emptying of hyperosmolar gastric contents into the small intestine.
Dumping syndrome is also called rapid gastric emptying which occurs when the undigested food bypass the  stomach and transported or "dumped" into the small intestine too rapidly.

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