Dumping Syndrome Clinical Presentation
- Author: Alan BR Thomson, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD more...
History
The clinical presentation of dumping syndrome can be divided into GI symptoms and vasomotor symptoms. GI symptoms include early satiety, crampy abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and explosive diarrhea. Vasomotor symptoms include diaphoresis, flushing, dizziness, palpitations, and an intense desire to lie down.
The expression of these symptoms varies in different individuals. Most patients with early dumping have both GI and vasomotor symptoms, while patients with late dumping have mostly vasomotor symptoms. Patients with severe dumping often limit their food intake to avoid symptoms. This leads to weight loss and, over time, malnutrition.
- Early dumping systemic symptoms
- Desire to lie down
- Palpitations
- Fatigue
- Faintness
- Syncope
- Diaphoresis
- Headache
- Flushing
- Early dumping abdominal symptoms
- Epigastric fullness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramps
- Borborygmi
- Late dumping
- Perspiration
- Shakiness
- Difficulty to concentrate
- Decreased consciousness
- Hunger
Physical
- Dumping syndrome is diagnosed based on typical symptoms in patients who have undergone gastric surgery. Typical signs and symptoms can be elicited with an oral glucose challenge of 50 g.
- Sigstad developed a diagnostic scoring system on weighing factors allocated to the symptoms of dumping. A diagnostic index greater than 7 is suggestive of dumping syndrome.
- Sigstad's diagnostic index, indicating symptoms and the points assigned for those symptoms, is as follows:
- Shock: +5
- Almost fainting, syncope, unconsciousness: +4
- Desire to lie or sit down: +4
- Breathlessness, dyspnea: +3
- Weakness, exhaustion: +3
- Sleepiness, drowsiness, yawning, apathy, falling asleep: +3
- Palpitation: +3
- Restlessness: +2
- Dizziness: +2
- Headaches: +1
- Feeling of warmth, sweating, pallor, clammy skin: +1
- Nausea: +1
- Fullness in the abdomen, meteorism: +1
- Borborygmus: +1
- Eructation: -1
- Vomiting: -4
- The Visick classification is also used to characterize the severity of symptoms after gastric surgery. A rise in the heart rate by 10 beats per minute or more in the first hour after an oral glucose challenge of 50 g was found to be 100% sensitive and 92% specific for early dumping.
Causes
- Dumping can be separated into early and late forms depending on the occurrence of symptoms in relation to the time elapsed after a meal. Both forms occur because of the rapid delivery of large amounts of osmotically active solids and liquids to the duodenum. This is a direct result of alterations in the storage function of the stomach and/or pyloric emptying mechanism.
- The severity of dumping syndrome is proportional to the rate of gastric emptying.
- Postprandially, the stomach assumes its reservoir function to allow initial chemical digestion by acid and proteases before transferring food to the antrum. In the antrum, high-amplitude contractions triturate solids.
- Once solids have been reduced to 1-2 mm, they are able to empty through the pylorus. An intact pylorus has a separating function that prevents the passage of larger particles into the duodenum.
- Gastric emptying is controlled by fundic tone, antropyloric mechanisms, and duodenal feedback. Gastric surgery alters these mechanisms in several ways.
- Gastric resection can reduce the fundic reservoir, thereby reducing the receptiveness of the stomach to a meal. Similarly, vagotomy increases gastric tone, limiting accommodation.
- Any operation in which the pylorus is removed, bypassed, or destroyed increases the rate of gastric emptying. Duodenal feedback inhibition of gastric emptying is also lost after bypass of the duodenum with gastrojejunostomy. Accelerated early gastric emptying of liquids is a characteristic feature and a critical step in the pathogenesis of dumping syndrome.
- Gastric mucosal function is altered by surgery, and acid and enzymatic secretions are decreased. Also, hormonal secretions that sustain the gastric phase of digestion are adversely affected.
Borrelli D, Borrelli A, Presenti L, Bergamini C, Basili G. [Surgical approach of the functional post-partial gastrectomy syndromes] [Italian]. Ann Ital Chir. Jan-Feb 2007;78(1):3-10. [Medline].
Ukleja A. Dumping syndrome: pathophysiology and treatment. Nutr Clin Pract. Oct 2005;20(5):517-25. [Medline].
Ishikawa K, Arita T, Ninomiya S, et al. Outcome of segmental gastrectomy versus distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. World J Surg. Nov 2007;31(11):2204-7. [Medline].
Braghetto I, Papapietro K, Csendes A, et al. Nonesophageal side-effects after antireflux surgery plus acid-suppression duodenal diversion surgery in patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus*. Dis Esophagus. 2005;18(3):140-5. [Medline].
Rivera I, Ochoa-Martinez CI, Hermosillo-Sandoval JM, et al [Spanish]. [Dumping syndrome in patients submitted to gastric resection]. Cir Cir. Nov-Dec 2007;75(6):429-34. [Medline].
Thalhammer M, Cuk A, Palitzsch KD. [Postalimentary hypoglycaemia in post-gastrectomy late dumping syndrome] [German]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. Feb 25 2005;130(8):393-6. [Medline].
Azpiroz F, Malagelada JR. Gastric tone measured by an electronic barostat in health and postsurgical gastroparesis. Gastroenterology. Apr 1987;92(4):934-43. [Medline].
Hertz AF. IV. The Cause and Treatment of Certain Unfavorable After-effects of Gastro-enterostomy. Ann Surg. Oct 1913;58(4):466-72. [Medline].
Spiller R. Role of motility in chronic diarrhoea. Neurogastroenterol Motil. Dec 2006;18(12):1045-55. [Medline].
Morioka J, Miyachi M, Niwa M, et al. Gastric emptying for liquids and solids after distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction. Hepatogastroenterology. May-Jun 2008;55(84):1136-9. [Medline].
Kalser MH, Cohen R. Correlation of jejunal transfer of water and electrolytes with blood volume in postgastrectomy patients: response to hypertonic glucose meal. Ann Surg. Nov 1966;164(5):821-9. [Medline].
Hinshaw DB, Joergerson EJ, Davis HA. Peripheral blood flow and blood volume studies in the dumping syndrome. Arch Surg. 1957;74:686.
Goldfine AB, Mun EC, Devine E, et al. Patients with neuroglycopenia after gastric bypass surgery have exaggerated incretin and insulin secretory responses to a mixed meal. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Dec 2007;92(12):4678-85. [Medline].
Yamamoto H, Mori T, Tsuchihashi H, et al. A possible role of GLP-1 in the pathophysiology of early dumping syndrome. Dig Dis Sci. Dec 2005;50(12):2263-7. [Medline].
Akimov VP, Dvaladze LG, Shengelia TD, Veselov IuE. [A new view on pathogenesis of dumping-syndrome] [Russian]. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek. 2008;167(6):22-5. [Medline].
Deitel M. The change in the dumping syndrome concept. Obes Surg. Dec 2008;18(12):1622-4. [Medline].
Holdsworth CD, Turner D, McIntyre N. Pathophysiology of post-gastrectomy hypoglycaemia. Br Med J. Nov 1 1969;4(5678):257-9. [Medline].
Virji A, Murr MM. Caring for patients after bariatric surgery. Am Fam Physician. Apr 15 2006;73(8):1403-8. [Medline].
Penning C, Vecht J, Masclee AA. Efficacy of depot long-acting release octreotide therapy in severe dumping syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Nov 15 2005;22(10):963-9. [Medline].
Geer RJ, Richards WO, O'Dorisio TM, Woltering EO, Williams S, Rice D, et al. Efficacy of octreotide acetate in treatment of severe postgastrectomy dumping syndrome. Ann Surg. Dec 1990;212(6):678-87. [Medline].
Didden P, Penning C, Masclee AA. Octreotide therapy in dumping syndrome: Analysis of long-term results. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Nov 1 2006;24(9):1367-75. [Medline].
Moreira RO, Moreira RB, Machado NA, Gonçalves TB, Coutinho WF. Post-prandial hypoglycemia after bariatric surgery: pharmacological treatment with verapamil and acarbose. Obes Surg. Dec 2008;18(12):1618-21. [Medline].
Zhang J, Chen JD. Systematic review: applications and future of gastric electrical stimulation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Oct 1 2006;24(7):991-1002. [Medline].
Wei HB, Wei B, Zheng ZH, et al. Comparative study on three types of alimentary reconstruction after total gastrectomy. J Gastrointest Surg. Aug 2008;12(8):1376-82. [Medline].
Nunobe S, Sasako M, Saka M, et al. Symptom evaluation of long-term postoperative outcomes after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Gastric Cancer. 2007;10(3):167-72. [Medline].
Nakane Y, Michiura T, Sakuramoto K, et al. [Evaluation of the preserved function of the remnant stomach in pylorus preserving-gastrectomy by gastric emptying scintigraphy] [Japanese]. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. Jan 2007;34(1):25-8. [Medline].
Porter HW, Claman ZB. A preliminary report on the advantage of small stoma in partial gastrectomy for ulcer. Ann Surg. 1954;129:417.
Woodward ER, Desser PL, Gasster M. Surgical treatment of postgastrectomy dumping syndrome. West J Surg. 1955;63:567.
Koruth NM, Krukowski ZH, Matheson NA. Pyloric reconstruction. Br J Surg. Oct 1985;72(10):808-10. [Medline].
Cheadle WG, Baker PR, Cuschieri A. Pyloric reconstruction for severe vasomotor dumping after vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Ann Surg. Nov 1985;202(5):568-72. [Medline].
Henley FA. Experiences with jejunal interposition for correction of postgastrectomy syndromes. In: Harkins HN, Nyhus LM, eds. Surgery of the Stomach and Duodenum. Boston, Mass: Little Brown and Company; 1969:777.
Sawyers JL, Herrington JL Jr. Superiority of antiperistaltic jejunal segments in management of severe dumping syndrome. Ann Surg. Sep 1973;178(3):311-21. [Medline].
Vogel SB, Hocking MP, Woodward ER. Clinical and radionuclide evaluation of Roux-Y diversion for postgastrectomy dumping. Am J Surg. Jan 1988;155(1):57-62. [Medline].
Meier JJ, Butler AE, Galasso R, Butler PC. Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery is not accompanied by islet hyperplasia or increased beta-cell turnover. Diabetes Care. Jul 2006;29(7):1554-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Kellogg TA, Bantle JP, Leslie DB, et al. Postgastric bypass hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia syndrome: characterization and response to a modified diet. Surg Obes Relat Dis. Jul-Aug 2008;4(4):492-9. [Medline].
Rubio MA, Moreno C. [Nutritional implications of bariatric surgery on the gastrointestinal tract] [Spanish]. Nutr Hosp. May 2007;22 Suppl 2:124-34. [Medline].
Smith L, Smithers M, Prins J, O'Moore-Sullivan T. Acute and long-term effect of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor on dumping syndrome in a patient after a vagotomy and pyloric surgery. ANZ J Surg. Dec 2005;75(12):1124-6. [Medline].
Yamada M, Ohrui T, Asada M, et al. Acarbose attenuates hypoglycemia from dumping syndrome in an elderly man with gastrectomy. J Am Geriatr Soc. Feb 2005;53(2):358-9. [Medline].
Abbott WE, Krieger H, Levey S. Technical surgical factors which enhance or minimize postgastrectomy abnormalities. Ann Surg. 1958;148:567.
Abell TL, Minocha A. Gastrointestinal complications of bariatric surgery: diagnosis and therapy. Am J Med Sci. Apr 2006;331(4):214-8. [Medline].
Andreasen JJ, Orskov C, Holst JJ. Secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 and reactive hypoglycemia after partial gastrectomy. Digestion. 1994;55(4):221-8. [Medline].
Blackburn AM, Christofides ND, Ghatei MA, Sarson DL, Ebeid FH, Ralphs DN, et al. Elevation of plasma neurotensin in the dumping syndrome. Clin Sci (Lond). Oct 1980;59(4):237-43. [Medline].
Bloom SR, Royston CM, Thomson JP. Enteroglucagon release in the dumping syndrome. Lancet. Oct 14 1972;2(7781):789-91. [Medline].
Burkhalter E. Incidence of gastrectomy in United States army hospitals worldwide from 1975 to 1985. Am J Gastroenterol. Nov 1988;83(11):1231-4. [Medline].
Carvajal SH, Mulvihill SJ. Postgastrectomy syndromes: dumping and diarrhea. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. Jun 1994;23(2):261-79. [Medline].
Cranley B, Kelly KA, Go VL, McNichols LA. Enhancing the anti-dumping effect of Roux gastrojejunostomy with intestinal pacing. Ann Surg. Oct 1983;198(4):516-24. [Medline].
Didden P, Penning C, Masclee AA. Octreotide therapy in dumping syndrome: Analysis of long-term results. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Nov 1 2006;24(9):1367-75. [Medline].
Duthie HL, Irvine WT, Kerr JW. Cardiovascular changes in post-gastrectomy syndrome. Br J Surg. 1959;46:350.
Eisenberg MM, Woodward ER, Carson TJ, Dragstedt LR. Vagotomy and drainage procedure for duodenal ulcer: the results of ten years' experience. Ann Surg. Sep 1969;170(3):317-28. [Medline].
Gonzalez-Sanchez JA, Corujo-Vazquez O, Sahai-Hernandez M. Bariatric surgery patients: reasons to visit emergency department after surgery. Bol Asoc Med P R. Oct-Dec 2007;99(4):279-83. [Medline].
Gray JL, Debas HT, Mulvihill SJ. Control of dumping symptoms by somatostatin analogue in patients after gastric surgery. Arch Surg. Oct 1991;126(10):1231-5; discussion 1235-6. [Medline].
Gustavsson S, Kelly KA, Melton LJ 3rd, Zinsmeister AR. Trends in peptic ulcer surgery. A population-based study in Rochester, Minnesota, 1956-1985. Gastroenterology. Mar 1988;94(3):688-94. [Medline].
Hasler WL, Soudah HC, Owyang C. Mechanisms by which octreotide ameliorates symptoms in the dumping syndrome. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. Jun 1996;277(3):1359-65. [Medline].
Hockings MP, Vogel SB. Woodward's postgastrectomy syndromes. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1991:195.
Hoffmann J, Jensen HE, Christiansen J, Olesen A, Loud FB, Hauch O. Prospective controlled vagotomy trial for duodenal ulcer. Results after 11-15 years. Ann Surg. Jan 1989;209(1):40-5. [Medline].
Holst JJ. Glucagonlike peptide 1: a newly discovered gastrointestinal hormone. Gastroenterology. Dec 1994;107(6):1848-55. [Medline].
Hopman WP, Wolberink RG, Lamers CB, Van Tongeren JH. Treatment of the dumping syndrome with the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995. Ann Surg. Feb 1988;207(2):155-9. [Medline].
Johnson LP, Jesseph JE. Evidence of a humoral etiology of the dumping syndrome. Surg Forum. 1961;12:316.
Johnston D, Blackett RL. A new look at selective vagotomies. Am J Surg. Nov 1988;156(5):416-27. [Medline].
Karamanolis G, Tack J. Nutrition and motility disorders. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2006;20(3):485-505. [Medline].
Khoshoo V, Reifen RM, Gold BD, Sherman PM, Pencharz PB. Nutritional manipulation in the management of dumping syndrome. Arch Dis Child. Dec 1991;66(12):1447-8. [Medline].
Krieger H, Levey S. Technical surgical factors which enhance or minimize postgastrectomy abnormalities. Ann Surg. 1958;148:567.
Lamers CB, Bijlstra AM, Harris AG. Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analog, in the management of postoperative dumping syndrome. An update. Dig Dis Sci. Feb 1993;38(2):359-64. [Medline].
Lawaetz O, Blackburn AM, Bloom SR, Aritas Y, Ralphs DN. Gut hormone profile and gastric emptying in the dumping syndrome. A hypothesis concerning the pathogenesis. Scand J Gastroenterol. Jan 1983;18(1):73-80. [Medline].
Layer P, Holst JJ, Grandt D, Goebell H. Ileal release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Association with inhibition of gastric acid secretion in humans. Dig Dis Sci. May 1995;40(5):1074-82. [Medline].
LeQuesne LP, Hobsley M, Hand BH. The dumping syndrome I. Factors responsible for the symptoms. Br Med J. 1960;1:141.
Lygidakis NJ. A new method for the surgical treatment of the dumping syndrome. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. Nov 1981;63(6):411-4. [Medline].
Machella TE. The mechanism of postgastrectomy dumping. Surg. 1949;130:145.
Mackie CR, Jenkins SA, Hartley MN. Treatment of severe postvagotomy/postgastrectomy symptoms with the somatostatin analogue octreotide. Br J Surg. Nov 1991;78(11):1338-43. [Medline].
Meyer JH, Thompson JB, Cohen MB. Motility of the stomach and the gastroduodenal junction. In: Johnson LR, ed. The Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Raven Press; 1987:625-9.
Meyer JH, Thomson JB, Cohen MB, Shadchehr A, Mandiola SA. Sieving of solid food by the canine stomach and sieving after gastric surgery. Gastroenterology. Apr 1979;76(4):804-13. [Medline].
Miholic J, Reilmann L, Meyer HJ, Körber H, Kotzerke J, Hecker H. Extracellular space, blood volume, and the early dumping syndrome after total gastrectomy. Gastroenterology. Oct 1990;99(4):923-9. [Medline].
Mix CL. Dumping following gastrojejunostomy. Surg Clin North Am. 1922;2:617.
Norryd C, Dencker H, Lunderquist A, Olin T, Tylén U. Superior mesenteric blood flow during experimentally induced dumping in man. Acta Chir Scand. 1975;141(3):187-96. [Medline].
Overton RC, Jordon GLJ, DeBakey ME. The postgastrectomy syndrome: studies of pathogenesis. Ann Surg. 1957;145:471.
Paimela H, Tuompo PK, Perakyl T, Saario I, Hockerstedt K, Kivilaakso E. Peptic ulcer surgery during the H2-receptor antagonist era: a population-based epidemiological study of ulcer surgery in Helsinki from 1972 to 1987. Br J Surg. Jan 1991;78(1):28-31. [Medline].
Pedersen JH, Beck H, Shokouh-Amiri M, Fischer A. Effect of neurotensin in the dumping syndrome. Scand J Gastroenterol. May 1986;21(4):478-82. [Medline].
Penning C, Vecht J, Masclee AA. Efficacy of depot long-acting release octreotide therapy in severe dumping syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Nov 15 2005;22(10):963-9. [Medline].
Perman E. The so-called dumping syndrome after gastrectomy. Acta Med Scan. 1947;128 (suppl 196):361.
Ralphs DN, Thomson JP, Haynes S, Lawson-Smith C, Hobsley M, Le Quesne LP. The relationship between the rate of gastric emptying and the dumping syndrome. Br J Surg. Sep 1978;65(9):637-41. [Medline].
Roberts KE, Randall HT, Farr HW. Cardiovascular and blood volume alterations resulting from intrajejunal administration of hypertonic solutions to gastrectomized patients: The relationship of these changes to the dumping syndrome. Ann Surg. 1954;140:631.
Sagor GR, Bryant MG, Ghatei MA, Kirk RM, Bloom SR. Release of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the dumping syndrome. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). Feb 14 1981;282(6263):507-10. [Medline].
Sawyers JL. Management of postgastrectomy syndromes. Am J Surg. Jan 1990;159(1):8-14. [Medline].
Sigstad H. A clinical diagnostic index in the diagnosis of the dumping syndrome. Changes in plasma volume and blood sugar after a test meal. Acta Med Scand. Dec 1970;188(6):479-86. [Medline].
Snook JA, Wells AD, Prytherch DR, Evans DH, Bloom SR, Colin-Jones DG. Studies on the pathogenesis of the early dumping syndrome induced by intraduodenal instillation of hypertonic glucose. Gut. Dec 1989;30(12):1716-20. [Medline].
Tack J. Gastric motor disorders. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2007;21(4):633-44. [Medline].
Tulassay Z, Tulassay T, Gupta R, Cierny G. Long acting somatostatin analogue in dumping syndrome. Br J Surg. Dec 1989;76(12):1294-5. [Medline].
Ukleja A. Dumping syndrome: pathophysiology and treatment. Nutr Clin Pract. Oct 2005;20(5):517-25. [Medline].
van der Kleij FG, Vecht J, Lamers CB, Masclee AA. Diagnostic value of dumping provocation in patients after gastric surgery. Scand J Gastroenterol. Dec 1996;31(12):1162-6. [Medline].
Vetch J, Lambers RJ. Octreotide influences small intestinal motility and transit time in fasting and fed states. Gastro. 1994;106:A583.
Visick AH. A study of the failures after gastrectomy. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1948;3:266.
Wick JY. Coming to a facility near you: the bariatric surgery patient. Consult Pharm. Nov 2006;21(11):874-76, 878-80, 882, 885-6. [Medline].
Wong PY, Talamo RC, Babior BM, Raymond GG, Colman RW. Kallikrein-kinin system in postgastrectomy dumping syndrome. Ann Intern Med. May 1974;80(5):577-81. [Medline].
Z'graggen K, Guweidhi A, Steffen R, et al. Severe recurrent hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery. Obes Surg. Aug 2008;18(8):981-8. [Medline].
Zeitlin IJ, Smith AN. 5-hydroxyindoles and kinins in the carcinoid and dumping syndromes. Lancet. Nov 5 1966;2(7471):986-91. [Medline].

