EVALUATION OF THE POSTOPERATIVE STOMACH AND DUODENUM

Patients who undergo a gastric or duodenal operation present challengi ng problems to the physician. Currently, gastric or duodenal operation s are performed to correct peptic ulcer disease and its complications, resect benign or malignant masses, and control obesity. Indications f or surgery in patients with peptic ulcer disease include hemorrhage, p erforation, obstruction, ulcer intractability, and the inability to ex clude malignancy in a gastric ulcer. Neoplasms of the stomach and duod enum require resection, depending on their benign or malignant nature, their location, the extent of disease, and the underlying physiologic status of the patient. Most clinically significant gastroduodenal mas ses are malignant and require formal anatomic resection, usually with distal or total gastrectomy. Stapling procedures have been shown to be effective in reducing excess body weight with creation of a small gas tric pouch to restrict the outlet and cause early satiety, decreased c aloric intake, and weight loss. Reliable radiologic findings depend on a thorough understanding of the complex anatomic and physiologic alte rations that occur after surgery and familiarity with appropriate tech niques of examination. With this background, complications unique to t he surgical procedure as well as general complications found in all po stoperative patients will be detected quickly and accurately.