Dumping syndrome

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Dumping syndrome is a group of symptoms most likely to develop if you've had surgery to remove all or part of your stomach, or if your stomach has been surgically bypassed to help lose weight. Also called rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome occurs when the undigested contents of your stomach are transported or "dumped" into your small intestine too rapidly. Common symptoms include abdominal cramps and nausea.

Most people with dumping syndrome experience symptoms soon after eating. In others, symptoms may occur one to three hours after eating. In either case, symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Dumping syndrome often improves on its own without medical treatment or after adjusting your diet. In more-serious cases of dumping syndrome, you may need medication or surgery.

References
  1. Rapid gastric emptying. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/rapidgastricemptying/. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
  2. Tack J, et al. Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of postoperative dumping syndrome. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2009;6:583.
  3. Mun EC, et al. Complications of bariatric surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
  4. Mun EC, et al. Medical management of patients after bariatric surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
  5. Deitel, M. The change in the dumping syndrome concept. Obesity Surgery. 2008;18:1622.
  6. Hejazi RA, et al. Dumping syndrome: Establishing criteria for diagnosis and identifying new etiologies. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2010;55:117.
  7. Dumping syndrome. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. http://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/B_EXTRANET_HEALTH_INFORMATION-FlexMember-Show_Public_HFFY_1104449365863.html. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
  8. Pectin. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
  9. Guar gum. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
  10. Black psyllium. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
  11. Blond psyllium. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
DS00715 April 3, 2010

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