[Transthoracic truncal vagotomy as an operation necessary in peptic ulcer of the jejunum]

Peptic ulcers require radical surgery in most cases, typically involving resection of the gaster and a vagotomy. However, as post partial gastrectomy recidive peptic ulcers are usually recistant to internal treatment, and since often patients so afflicted are in poor physical condition, the surgeon must choose the least radical procedure. Because of this, the authors feel that in cases of perforative and/or bleeding peptic ulcers of the jejunum, the transthoracic truncal vagotomy in the procedure which is least taxing for both the patient and surgeon. The operation is short, easy to perform and does not considerably alter the condition of the patient. To date, at the Surgical Clinic of the "Braca Dr. Sobol" Hospital (Rijeka), on about 2000 gastric resection, only 11 transthoracic truncal vagotomies, as exclusiv operations, were performed. Postoperatively, these patients were supervised several months to ten years or longer. In all cases the pain and bleeding subsided. For these reasons, the authors recommend this minimal but necessary operation.