Post-vagotomy diarrhea

Post-vagotomy diarrhea
Classification and external resources

Post-vagotomy diarrhea is a form of diarrhea which occurs in 10% of patients after a truncal vagotomy, which can range from severe to debilitating in approximately 2% to 4% of patients.^[1] However, the occurrence of post-vagotomy diarrhea is significantly reduced after proximal selective vagotomy, specifically when celiac and hepatic branches of the vagus are retained.^[1]

Treatment

Surgical treatment for refractory post-vagotomy diarrhea is rarely needed and at least one year from the occurrence of symptoms should be allotted to ensure all non-surgical treatments have been appropriately explored. Under severe cases, where surgical intervention does become necessary, a 10 cm reverse jejunal inteposition is usually the procedure of choice.^[2]

References

1. Cameron, John L. Cameron, Andrew M. (2011). Current surgical therapy (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4377-0823-3. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
2. Eubanks, edited by Nathaniel J Soper, Lee L Swanström, W. Stephen (2008). Mastery of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781771986.