If a patient has just had gastric surgery and is acting drunk and in shock with abdominal distress, what should be suspected?

The presentation of a patient who has recently undergone gastric surgery and is exhibiting signs of feeling "drunk," experiencing shock, and showing abdominal distress aligns closely with dumping syndrome. This condition occurs when food, especially sugar, moves too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine, which can happen after gastric surgery due to changes in the stomach's normal functions.

Symptoms of dumping syndrome can include confusion, weakness, dizziness, and palpitations, which can all resemble the signs of someone who is intoxicated. The shock the patient feels may stem from fluid shifts and changes in blood pressure as the body responds to the rapid gastrointestinal transit.

In terms of abdominal distress, patients may experience cramping and discomfort due to rapid distension of the small intestine by undigested food. These symptoms together provide a strong indication of dumping syndrome as a complication following gastric surgery.

The other conditions typically would present with a different set of symptoms. For instance, pneumonia would usually manifest with respiratory symptoms such as a cough or difficulty breathing, while gastric outlet obstruction would often lead to consistent vomiting and inability to tolerate food, and sepsis would present with systemic signs such as fever and malaise, which are not highlighted in this scenario.