Postgastrectomy Nutrition

Gastric resection, whether partial or total gastrectomy, often results in nutrition-related complications including weight loss, diet intolerances, and micronutrient deficiencies. The physiology of normal and postgastrectomy digestion is the basis for most of the current diet recommendations after gastric surgery. A careful review reveals that there is not sufficient literature to support a standard postgastrectomy diet. Rather, individualized diet manipulation for symptom relief is recommended. This review highlights the physiology behind common postgastrectomy complications, provides guidelines for the medical and nutrition management of these complications, and presents a basic approach to postgastrectomy gastrointestinal symptoms.