DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF P OSTOPERATIVE REFLUX GASTRITIS

Postoperative reflux gastritis in persons who were operated on for pep tic ulcer occurs much more frequently after resection of the stomach ( 68.6 %) than after organ-preserving operations on the stomach (39.4 %) . The incidence of reflux gastritis after gastric resection depends on the type of gastroenteroanastomosis. It is encountered much less freq uently after Roux' operation (9.2 %). The pronounced character and fre quency of reflux gastritis after organ-preserving operations on the st omach are determined by the type of stomach-draining operations, the l ocatization of the ulcer before the operation, whether in the stomach or the duodenum, the existence of duodenogastric reflux (DGR) before t he operation. Measures for the prevention of postoperative reflux gast ritis in the management of peptic ulcer are as follows: (a) wide intro duction of organ-preserving operations, preferably SPV by itself or in combination with duodenoplasty; (b) formation of Roux' gastroenteroan astomosis when resection of the stomach is indicated. Reflux gastritis must be treated by nonoperative methods, including medicinal, dieteti c, and spa therapy. Surgery is indicated in reflux gastritis combined with other diseases of a stomach which had been operated on, for which an operation is necessary, and in occasional cases of erosive reflux gastritis.