Post-vagotomy diarrhea

Post-vagotomy diarrhea
Post-vagotomy diarrhea
	Course of vagus nerve
Specialty	Gastroenterology

Last updated November 19, 2025

Post-vagotomy diarrhea is a form of diarrhea which occurs in 10% of people after a truncal vagotomy, which can range from severe to debilitating in approximately 2% to 4% of patients.^[1] However, the occurrence of post-vagotomy diarrhea is significantly reduced after proximal selective vagotomy, specifically when celiac and hepatic branches of the vagus are retained.^[1]

Treatment

Surgical treatment for refractory post-vagotomy diarrhea is rarely needed and at least one year from the occurrence of symptoms should be allotted to ensure all non-surgical treatments have been appropriately explored. Under severe cases, where surgical intervention does become necessary, a 10 cm reverse jejunal interposition is usually the procedure of choice.^[2]

References

1 2 Cameron, John L. Cameron, Andrew M. (2011). Current surgical therapy (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4377-0823-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Soper NJ (2008). Swanström LL, Eubanks WS (eds.). Mastery of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0781771986.

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[surgical_therapy-1] 1 2 Cameron, John L. Cameron, Andrew M. (2011). Current surgical therapy (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4377-0823-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[2] Soper NJ (2008). Swanström LL, Eubanks WS (eds.). Mastery of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0781771986.

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