Anaemia following gastric operations for peptic ulceration in dublin

Summary

• 1. Three hundred and fifteen patients seen at 0-15 years after a gastric operation for peptic ulcer had an incidence of anaemia of 44% among the men and 34% among the women.

• 2. The mean haemoglobin level was shown to fall progressively and significantly with years after partial gastrectomy. This was most marked following the Polya gastrectomy and in pre-menopausal as opposed to post-menopausal women.

• 3. The gastro-enterostomy group, although showing no progressive fall in the mean haemoglobin, showed a significantly higher incidence of anaemia than the medically treated peptic ulcer group. This was probably due to the higher incidence of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage occurring in this group as compared with the partial gastrectomy group.

• 4. The medically treated peptic ulcer group showed a significant rise in the mean haemoglobin level with years after hospital treatment. Pre-operative anaemia was a highly significant factor in the incidence of anaemia following operation. The significance of this is discussed.

• 5. Haematological evidence of iron deficiency was found in 22.2% of these cases. The incidence was highest following the Polya gastrectomy and in women.

• 6. Megaloblastic anaemia was found in 3 cases (1.2%) in all of whom it occurred following a Polya gastrectomy. Two of these cases also had subacute combined degeneration.