Proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage and selective gastric vagotomy with drainage for surgical therapy of duodenal ulcer: a retrospective study.

: During a 3-year period proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage and selective gastric vagotomy with drainage were performed in 61 patients with duodenal ulcer. Of these, 57 patients were followed for 3-6 years. 77% were symptom-free (Visick I); 8,3% were improved but still have periods of dyspepsia (Visick II) and 14% were failures because of recurrent ulcer (Visick III). There were seven duodenal recurrences in the bulb, and one prepyloric recurrence. There were no operative deaths or major complications. The side effects, like diarrhoea and dumping, after proximal gastric vagotomy and selective vagotomy were mild and rare. The majority of our patients gained their ideal body weight within the first six months from surgery. Blood chemistry did not show any deficiency in haemoglobin secondary to vagotomy, but plasma basal level of gastrin was constantly higher after surgery. It is concluded that 3-6 years after proximal gastric vagotomy and selective gastric vagotomy for duodenal ulcer there was a 14% recurrence rate, but the absence of mortality, severe complications or significant side effects seems to be at least as important as the high recurrence rate.