The long-term outcome of Billroth I partial gastrectomy for benign gastric ulcer

A study was done of 144 patients undergoing Billroth I partial gastrectomy for benign gastric ulcer. At a mean follow-up of 9.4 years, 95 patients were alive. Of 79 patients reviewed, 84% had an excellent or good result on clinical (Visick) grading. Five cases of proven recurrent ulceration were found; two of these patients required subsequent truncal vagotomy. There was one early death after operation, and 48 late deaths, including one from carcinoma of the gastric remnant (at two years), one from a reticulum cell sarcoma of the stomach (at three years), and one from reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis. The operation was not attended by appreciable nutritional sequelae, although there was a tendency towards iron deficiency anemia.