Incomplete distal denervation and recurrent ulcer after parietal cell vagotomy

Twenty-five patients with chronic duodenal ulcer and subjected to parietal cell vagotomy were evaluated as either underdenervated or optimally denervated, depending on whether parietal cells were present distal to the last branch of Latarjet's nerve. A 5-year follow-up study demonstrated recurrent ulcer in three of five judged as underdenervated. In addition to the possible technical error of distal and proximal dissection, the importance of the inborn error of incomplete distal denervation is confirmed.