What is the most common symptom following vagotomy or gastrectomy?

The most common symptom following vagotomy or gastrectomy is diarrhea. This phenomenon occurs due to several factors associated with these surgical procedures.

Vagotomy, which involves cutting the vagus nerve, can lead to alterations in gastric motility and acid secretion. When the vagus nerve is severed, it decreases the inhibitory influences on gastric and intestinal motility, which may result in increased gastric emptying. As a consequence, food can pass into the small intestine more rapidly than normal. This rapid emptying can lead to a condition known as "dumping syndrome," where partially digested food moves too quickly into the small intestine, contributing to symptoms such as diarrhea.

Similarly, following a gastrectomy, patients are more likely to experience changes in their digestive processes due to alterations in gastric capacity and the removal of various stomach functions. The lessened ability to store and process food in the stomach can also lead to diarrhea due to similar rapid emptying and changes in nutrient absorption.

While nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation can occur after these surgical procedures, they are generally less common than diarrhea. The physiological changes resulting from the surgeries create a unique environment in the gastrointestinal tract that typically leads to increased stool frequency and liquidity. This understanding underscores why diarrhea is