Evaluation of the pylorusfunction after pylorus-preserving distal gastrectomy by the gastrointestinal and biliary scintigraphy

The postoperative function of pylorus-preserving distal gastrectomy (PPDG) was analyzed by gastrointestinal and biliary scintigraphy in 8 patients and compared with that of pre-operative control and conventional distal gastrectomy with Billroth-1 reconstruction (B-1) groups. The mean evacuation times of bile to duodenum of three groups had no significant differences and in the PPDG group, there was no difference in bile evacuation between the pre-and postoperative periods. The regurgitation of bile to the rest stomach was observed in more than 40% of the B-1 group, but was seldom observed in the PPDG group and control group. Gastric emptying after pylorus-preserving distal gastrectomy assessed by gastrointestinal scintigraphy was significantly slower than the control at 6 months after surgery, however, this difference was no longer observed 1 year after surgery. Therefore, pyloric function after PPDG was observed to improve gradually after the surgery. (author)