Vagotomy and gastroenterostomy for stenosing duodenal ulcer

Vagotomy and gastroenterostomy (V-GE) was performed in 41 patients with chronic stenosing duodenal ulcer and gastric retention in the years 1965-84. There was no mortality and no severe complication occurred. One patient was reoperated for dysfunction of an antecolic stoma. After a follow-up of 1-16 (mean 8) years 30 patients were interviewed and gastroscopy was performed in 21. One recurrence of ulcer was found at endoscopy. Visick classification gave the following overall results: grade I 40%, grade II 13%, grade III 30% and grade IV 17%. One case of gastric carcinoma was found five years after operation. It was concluded that V-GE is a simple and safe method and will give satisfactory early and long-term results.