Dumping Syndrome

Abstract

The dumping syndrome consists of early postprandial abdominal and vasomotor symptoms, resulting from osmotic fluid shifts and release of vasoactive neurotransmitters, and late symptoms secondary to reactive hypoglycemia. Effective relief of symptoms of dumping syndrome can be achieved with dietary modifications to minimize ingestion of simple carbohydrates and to exclude fluid intake during ingestion of the solid portion of the meal. More severely affected individuals may respond to agents such as pectin and guar, which increase the viscosity of intraluminal contents, or to drugs such as the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose, which blunts the rapid absorption of glucose, and the somatostatin analog octreotide, which alters gut transit and impairs release of vasoactive mediators into the bloodstream.