[Cimetidine in the treatment of postoperative peptic ulcer]

The results of treatment with cimetidine in 12 patients with postoperative peptic ulcer are presented. Anterior surgical procedures were: Billroth II gastrectomy (8 cases), proximal selective vagotomy (1 case), truncal vagotomy plus pyloroplasty (1 case), gastroenteroanastomosis (1 case) and intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis (1 case). Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by radiology and endoscopy. Gastric secretion, both, basal and stimulated by Histalog was considered high (basal from 0,82 to 4,68 mEq/1 stimulated from 6,06 to 54,1 mEq/1). The patients were treated with 1,0 g of cimetidine daily, divided in four dosis. Healing assessed endoscopically, was seen in 75%. Treatment with cimetidine failed in three patients (25%) who were submitted to selective vagotomy and their ulcers healed. The authors conclude that treatment with cimetidine in postoperative peptic ulcer is effective and should be the first choice before surgical reoperation.