What will be the condition of a patient after distal gastrectomy due to his gastric carcinoma.

Question

Complications of post-gastrectomy syndrome include anemia as a result of vitamin b12 or iron malabsorption and osteoporosis. These problems generally occur months or even years after gastric surgery. Vitamin b12 malabsorption occurs when a protein known as intrinsic factor is either not produced by the stomach (this is a condition called pernicious anemia) or when the proximal stomach is resected (the portion of the stomach that produces intrinsic factor). In either case, that absence of intrinsic factor leads to the poor absorption of vitamin b12. Under normal circumstances intrinsic factor binds to vitamin b12 and assists with the absorption of this vitamin in the lower portion of the small bowel. When vitamin b12 is poorly absorbed, anemia and, in some cases, poor nerve function can occur. This generally does not happen for several years because vitamin b12 is stored in large amounts in the liver. Iron deficiency anemia develops because removal of the stomach often leads to a marked decrease in the production of gastric acid. This acid is necessary to convert dietary iron to a form that is more readily absorbed in the duodenum. Anemia usually does not occur for a few years after gastric surgery because iron is stored in moderately large amounts in the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. Osteoporosis develops as a result of poor calcium absorption, another problem that occurs after gastric surgery.

Surbhi Agrawal · Accepted Answer

Complications of post-gastrectomy syndrome include anemia as a result of vitamin b12 or iron malabsorption and osteoporosis. These problems generally occur months or even years after gastric surgery. Vitamin b12 malabsorption occurs when a protein known as intrinsic factor is either not produced by the stomach (this is a condition called pernicious anemia) or when the proximal stomach is resected (the portion of the stomach that produces intrinsic factor). In either case, that absence of intrinsic factor leads to the poor absorption of vitamin b12. Under normal circumstances intrinsic factor binds to vitamin b12 and assists with the absorption of this vitamin in the lower portion of the small bowel. When vitamin b12 is poorly absorbed, anemia and, in some cases, poor nerve function can occur. This generally does not happen for several years because vitamin b12 is stored in large amounts in the liver. Iron deficiency anemia develops because removal of the stomach often leads to a marked decrease in the production of gastric acid. This acid is necessary to convert dietary iron to a form that is more readily absorbed in the duodenum. Anemia usually does not occur for a few years after gastric surgery because iron is stored in moderately large amounts in the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. Osteoporosis develops as a result of poor calcium absorption, another problem that occurs after gastric surgery.