Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Dumping Syndrome

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Dumping Syndrome

Dumping syndrome is a condition that can develop after surgery to remove all or part of your stomach or after surgery to bypass your stomach to help you lose weight.

Insight:

• Dumping syndrome can also develop in people who have had esophageal surgery.
• Also called rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome occurs when food, especially sugar, moves from the stomach into the small bowel too quickly.
• Symptoms include feeling bloating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, flushing, dizziness, and rapid heart rate.
• Causes: Dumping syndrome can occur after any stomach surgery or major esophageal surgery, such as removal of the esophagus (esophagectomy).
• Risk factors include gastrectomy, gastric bypass or esophagectomy procedures.
• Diagnosis may include blood test, medical history, and gastric emptying test.
• Treatment options may include medications, such as octreotide (Sandostatin), and surgery. Mostly likely the syndrome will resolve on its own within 3 months.

Sources:

• Dumping syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• dumping syndrome image - Google Search