[Dietary treatment following gastrectomy].

A number of nutritional complications occur after total gastrectomy, such as protein malnutrition, dumping syndrome, diarrhoea, weight loss, iron deficiency and osteomalacia. Lack of appetite, absence of the sensation of hunger, oesophagitis, dysphagia and the limited capacity for food in most cases are the causes of suboptimal dietary intake after total gastrectomy. To avoid underweight and symptoms after gastrectomy it is necessary that all patients are seen soon after operation and at regular intervals thereafter not only by physicians but by dietitians additionally.