Dumping syndrome is a condition in which food, especially food high in sugar, moves too quickly from the stomach to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, in the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is also known as rapid gastric emptying. Dumping syndrome is mostly associated with conditions following gastric or esophageal surgery, though it can also arise secondary to diabetes or to the use of certain medications. There are two forms of dumping syndrome, early and late, based on when symptoms occur.

Symptoms of early dumping syndrome occur 10 to 30 minutes after a meal and may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, feeling uncomfortably full or bloated after a meal, sweating, weakness, dizziness, flushing, or blushing of the face or skin, and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Symptoms of late dumping syndrome occur 1 to 3 hours after a meal and may include hypoglycemia, flushing, heart palpitations, sweating, hunger, confusion, fatigue, aggression, tremors, and fainting.

Dumping syndrome is most commonly related to changes in the stomach associated with surgery, including any stomach surgery or major esophageal surgery, such as removal of the esophagus (esophagectomy). However, in rare cases, dumping syndrome can develop without a history of surgery or other obvious causes. Doctors typically diagnose dumping syndrome based on symptoms and may order tests, such as an oral glucose tolerance test or a gastric emptying scan, to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment for dumping syndrome may include changes to how and what you eat, medications, and, in some cases, surgery.