[Selective proximal vagotomy with or without pyloroplasty. Results of a prospective randomized study]

The authors report on the one-to-five year results of a prospective randomized trial of proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) with and without pyloroplasty in 64 men operated upon electively for chronic duodenal ulcer. The effects of the operation on gastric secretion tested at six months with pentagastrin and insulin were identical in both groups. There were fewer long-term side effects in the group without pyloroplasty. The differences between the groups do not reach statistical significance. So far no recurrent ulcers have been found in this series. It is concluded that a drainage procedure is unnecessary with PGV and that the long-term results of the operation are probably better when not combined with a pyloroplasty.