Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Function after Gastrectomy by Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Dual Scintigraphy and Significance of Vagal Nerve Preserving Gastrectomy

Takao Inada, Yoshiro Ogata, Iwao Ozawa, Takuji Ohishi*, Isamu Takizawa*

Department of Surgery and Radiology*, Tochigi Cancer Center

Mixing of food and bile after gastrectomy was examined among three groups: those who underwent total gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy and vagal nerve preserving distal gastrectomy, by dual scintigraphy of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract. Poor mixing depending on the delayed excretion of bile was frequently observed in those who underwent total gastrectomy. The results of hepatobiliary scintigraphy indicated that the excretion of bile to the duodenum was most delayed in the total gastrectomized group and the function of the hepatobiliary tract was better in those who underwent vagal nerve preserving distal gastrectomy than the other two groups. And by comparison of the results of six months and one year after gastrectomy, the function of the hepatogbiliary tract was relatively improved with time in two groups with vagal nerve dissection. As one factor in the poor mixing of food and bile after gastrectomy was the delayed excretion of bile, vagal nerve preservation in gastrectomy was useful for maintaining the hepatobiliary function after gastrectomy.

Key words
gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary dual scintigraphy, vagal nerve preserving distal gastrectomy, postcibal asynchrony

Reprint requests
Takao Inada Department of Surgery, Tochigi Cancer Center
4-9-13 Yohnan, Utsunomiya-city, 320 JAPAN

Accepted
March 8, 1995

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