Dysphagia after proximal gastric vagotomy

Ten patients were examined before and after proximal gastric vagotomy with videotape recordings of barium passage in esophagus, esophageal pressure recordings, and the insulin test. Four of the patients complained of dysphagia after the operation. The dysphagia subsided spontaneously after 1--2 months. Patients with dysphagia showed dilatation of the body of the esophagus and a tapered narrowing in the distal segment. The pressure recordings showed increased frequency and strength of rhythmic pressure waves compared with the preoperative findings. Our results support the theory of a neuromuscular dysfunction.