Is a gastric drainage procedure necessary after proximal gastrectomy or esophagogastrectomy and esophagogastrostomy?
Golematis, B.C.; Delikaris, P.G.; Bonatsos, G.N.; Douzinas, M.C.; Kambyssi, S.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine new York 49(5): 418-420
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-2507 PMID: 6983653 Document Number: 187243
A gastric drainage procedure seems to be necessary with the esophagogastrostomy because of the inevitable incidental bilateral truncal vagotomy which occurs during the proximal gastrectomy of an esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma of the cardia, fundus or lower esophagus. Although limited evidence favors gastric drainage in such conditions, there is some clinical and experimental work that indicates excellent results when such a drainage procedure is avoided. During a 7-yr period, 14 patients were submitted to an esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction with restoration of the gastrointestinal continuity by an esophagastrostomy without a drainage. Evaluation of these patients at 3 different time intervals after the operation with clinical assessment, radiologic and endoscopic examinations indicated that drainage was not necessary and that the majority of the patients were symptom free with no evidence of gastric retention or any problem of gastric emptying.