Recurrent Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Definitive Gastric Surgery

Abstract

The past 25 years have shown that definite resective gastric surgery may be carried out successfully. During the period when techniques were being standardized we became aware of some complications which can occur when a partial gastrectomy is carried out. There have been scores of reports in regard to postoperative stomal obstructions, delayed emptying of the gastric pouch, the "dumping syndrome," and postoperative blowout of the duodenal stump. There have also been reports of postoperative stomal ulcers which produce pain, perforating, or bleeding. Little if any mention has been made of the distressing complication of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding following definitive surgical procedures for duodenal ulcers wherein the cause and site of the bleeding cannot be determined. We have noted that a significant number of patients bleed from the upper gastrointestinal tract at some time or other after operation for duodenal ulcer. In 215 patients with duodenal ulcer treated by