[Peptic ulcer: therapeutic principle of vagotomy]

The selective proximal vagotomy (SPV) is the surgical procedure of choice today in patients with duodenal ulcer. The ulcer can be cured in 90-95% of all cases, if the indication for surgery is correct and the operation is performed by a technically experienced surgeon. The rate of complications and postoperative side-effects is extremely low as compared to the risks in patients suffering from an ulcer complication. If the peptic ulcer is located in the prepyloric region or high in the stomach, the SPV cannot be generally recommended; its application in these cases has so far been justified only within the scope of clinical studies.