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Rapid gastric emptying, or dumping syndrome, happens when the lower end
of the small intestine (jejunum) fills too quickly with undigested food
from the stomach. "Early" dumping begins during or right after a meal.
Symptoms of early dumping include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping,
diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. "Late" dumping happens 1 to 3 hours
after eating. Symptoms of late dumping include hypoglycemia, weakness,
sweating, and dizziness. Many people have both types.
Certain types of stomach surgery that allow the stomach to empty
rapidly are the main cause of dumping syndrome. Patients with Zollinger-Ellison
syndrome may also have dumping syndrome. (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a
rare disorder involving extreme peptic ulcer disease and gastrin-secreting
tumors in the pancreas.)
Doctors diagnose dumping syndrome primarily on the basis of symptoms in
patients who have had gastric surgery that causes the syndrome. Tests may
be needed to exclude other conditions that have similar symptoms.
Treatment includes changes in eating habits and medication. People who
have dumping syndrome need to eat several small meals a day that are low
in carbohydrates and should drink liquids between meals, not with them.
People with severe cases take medicine to slow their digestion. Doctors
may also recommend surgery.
Article By NIH Publication No. 05–4629 |
