13C-urea breath test in patients having undergone total gastrectomy

Background/Aims: In this study, we performed 13 C-urea breath test in patients who had undergone total gastrectomy and investigated the content of 13 CO 2 in the CO 2 gas expired after direct influx of 13 C-urea into the small intestine. Methodology: 13 C-Urea breath test was performed in 31 patients who had undergone total gastreetomy at this department for the treatment of stomach cancer and consented to participate in this study. The test was performed in two ways, i.e. with and without mouth washing (gargling) on taking 13 C-urea. Results: Among 41 measurements, the Δ 13 C was less than 2.5%o in 9 measurements (22.2%) and less than 2.0‰ in 6 measurements (14.6%). The Δ 13 C exceeded 50%o in 4 subjects (9.8%). There were no differences between the methods with and without gargling. Conclusions: The results of this study suggested the possibility that 13 C-urea is decomposed even in the jejunum or the lower part of intestine resulting in absorption of H 13 CO 3 - and another possibility that 13 C-urea is directly absorbed from the intestine and decomposed in the blood.