[Vagotomy for the surgical treatment of severe gastroduodenal hemorrhages]

24 patients (8 female, 16 male) with severe gastroduodenal haemorrhage were treated by vagotomy; in 17 cases highly selective vagotomy was performed, in 3 case truncal vagotomy + pyloroplasty and in 4 patients vagotomy was combined with excision or purse-string suture of the ulcer. Treatment was effective in 23 patients, without recurrence of haemorrhage. In 19 patients vagotomy not only curbed the bleeding but provided definitive therapy (Visick I-II); 4 patients died (mortality rate 16%).