Denervated Stomach as an Esophageal Substitute Recovers Intraluminal Acidity With Time

Abstract

Early after vagotomy, intraluminal gastric acidity is reduced in two thirds of patients, but the stomach recovers a normal intraluminal pH profile with time, so that in more than one third of patients, disabling cervical heartburn and esophagitis develop. The potential for the development of Barrett's metaplasia in the esophageal remnant brings into question the use of the stomach as an esophageal substitute in benign and early neoplastic disease.