Distal antrectomy with vagectomy for duodenal ulcer: results in 611 cases

Distal antrectomy (25% or less) resection of the distal stomach with bilateral vagectomy, Billroth II, antecolic, Polya or Hofmeister gastrojejunostomy, continues to be our operation of choice for chronic duodenal ulcer. This is based upon our experience in 611 operations and as a result of careful complete repeat in-patient followup studies conducted since our original operation which was devised and performed in July 1953. This procedure controls or eliminates the two major gastric acid stimulatory phases responsible in the pathogenesis and chronicity of a duodenal ulcer: neurogenic (cephalic phase) via the vagel gastric pathways, and the humoral (gastrin) phase via antral stimulation. Even though part of the antrum may remain in the gastric remnant in some patients, antral control is maintained because the antrum remains in the gastric acid stream, there is no stasis, and it is vagectomized. The ulcer diathesis is controlled with a minimal disturbance in gastric physiology, in function, and in gastric reservoir capacity; the procedure will almost eliminate all of the undesirable postoperative gastrointestinal sequelase associated with other operations for duodenal ulcer. It insures the least chance for marginal, gastric, or recurrent ulcer formation, and a low morbidity rate.