Prognostic factors in surgery for duodenal ulcer

A 5 to 12 year follow-up study of 132 patients with nonobstructive duodenal ulcer treated by HSV without a drainage procedure was done. The results of pre- and postoperative gastric emptying studies and pre- and postoperative acid secretion studies were related to recurrent ulceration and postoperative complaints. The almost 9 percent of instances of recurrent ulceration were found in the group of patients with preoperative PPAO values greater than 40 mmol/hr. In all 13 patients with preoperative PPAO values greater than 60 mmol/hr, HSV was considered a failure. It was concluded that at least the latter group should be excluded from HSV. In 4.3 percent of patients serious gastric stasis after HSV was cause for reoperation. In spite of meticulous denervation and peroperative open pH metry, inadequate vagotomy, defined as percent reduction of PIAO values after HSV less than 75 percent, was found in 33 out of 117 patients. In an experimental study, vascular occlusion alone also gives a positive Grassi test. From both facts the relative value of this test can be concluded. Symptoms after inadequate vagotomy were again clearly related to preoperative PPAO values.