Proximal gastric vagotomy in patients resistant to cimetidine

Fifty-seven patients, with chronic duodenal ulceration resistant to cimetidine therapy, underwent proximal gastric vagotomy during the period August 1979 to May 1984. Thirty-five failed to respond to cimetidine in a dose of 1 g/day, whilst 22 relapsed on reduction of dosage to 400 mg daily or on cessation of therapy. Forty have been followed up for a period of 12-53 months (median duration = 28.5 months), and assessed using the modified Visick system. Thirty-four patients (85 per cent) were graded Visick I or II. Four patients (10 per cent) had non-specific upper gastrointestinal symptoms (Visick III). In these patients endoscopy has shown no evidence of recurrent ulceration. Two patients (5 per cent) were graded Visick IV. One had recurrent ulceration on endoscopy. The other developed symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux, necessitating further surgery. These results support the view that cimetidine resistance is not a predictor of poor results following proximal gastric vagotomy.