Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome is a common occurrence after gastric bypass and, less frequently, after gastric sleeve surgery but is very often underdiagnosed.
It can impair the quality of life severely, bringing with it symptoms such as sweating, fatigue, anxiety and restlessness, shortness of breath, dizziness, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, trembling of the limbs, diarrhea, tachycardia, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, and weight gain.
Many patients suffer from different symptoms, making it difficult for most practitioners to confirm the correct diagnosis.
The main cause of Dumping syndrome is the rapid passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. Early dumping develops 30-60 minutes after eating, while late dumping develops after 1-3 hours. As a result, many patients experience anxiety before eating.
If uncomfortable symptoms persist despite following the diet plan, medical attention is necessary.
Treatment Options
A poor or wrong diet is usually not the cause of dumping syndrome. However, basic treatment for any form of dumping syndrome is nutritional counseling, because it teaches patients to eat small meals with low sugar content.
In case dietary counseling fails to control symptoms, we offer effective medical, surgical, and endoscopic therapies:
- Medical Therapy
There are various effective medications; a prescription of those however requires a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and consultation with a bariatric surgeon and an endocrinologist.
- Surgical Treatment
The goal of surgical treatment is to slow down the passage of food into the small intestine. To accomplish this, our experienced surgeons reduce the size of the stomach and place a silicone ring around it. We offer a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic program based on individual needs.
- Endoscopic Therapy
If the size of the stomach has not yet increased significantly, our endoscopy specialists can reduce the size of the stomach's border with the small intestine in order to slow down the passage of food into the small intestine.