[Postoperative alkaline reflux gastritis (author's transl)].

Postoperative alkaline reflux gastritis is a distinct clinical entity occuring after operations enlarging, bypassing or resecting the pylorus. Reflux of alkaline duodenal content into the stomach is the causative factor. Primarily bile acids have an aggressive effect and lead to a destruction of the gastric mucosal barrier. Epigastric pain, fullness after meals and bile vomiting are the main symptoms. Gastroscopy with biopsy reveals a severe chronic atrophic gastritis and bile reflux. In most cases an achlorhydria that can be histamin-resistant is present. For adequate treatment surgical procedures diverting the bile flow from the stomach should be performed.