A modification of the Visick grading for the evaluation of duodenal ulcer operations

A series of 150 patients with duodenal ulcer, treated by means of a highly selective vagotomy, is presented. The clinical follow-up of 100 patients, treated for more than three years, was assessed according to the Visick classification. A thirteen percent recurrence rate was noted in this series. Recurrences could either be cured easily by medical treatment or induce long lasting medication or operative intervention. A subdivision of the Visick 4 class of patients is proposed in this study, taking into account this quite different evolution of ulcer recurrences after highly selective vagotomy.