Primary Roux-Y gastrojejunostomy versus gastroduodenostomy after antrectomy and selective vagotomy

One hundred twenty-one patients with prepyloric ulcer disease entered a randomized clinical trial comparing gastroduodenostomy with Roux-Y gastrojejunostomy after antrectomy and selective gastric vagotomy. The postoperative course and morbidity were quite similar in the two study groups, as was the postoperative infectious complication rate. Forty-four of the patients with a Billroth I reconstruction and 52 of those with a Roux-Y reconstruction were followed up with a clinical assessment at least 6 months after the operation. The postgastrectomy symptoms were quite frequent, but did not differ between the two study groups. Seventy-five percent of the patients with a Billroth I gastroduodenostomy had symptoms corresponding to Visick grades 1 and 2, compared with 81% of those with Roux-Y reconstruction. Although the latter procedure was very effective in preventing bile reflux to the gastric remnant, no difference was observed in the gastric emptying rate after the two operations.