The use of controlled clinical trials in gastric surgery

Evaluation of results of different surgical treatment of duodenal ulcer requires controlled clinical trials. Some of the published trials have flaws in conception and realization: heterogeneity of material, absence of randomization, incomplete follow-up and incomplete data in results. The author presents a controlled clinical trial, following a carefully planned protocol, comparing results of gastric proximal vagotomy without drainage to those of selective vagotomy with gastro-jejunostromy. This study has shown the mean term advantages of proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage, and of the controlled clinical trial in demonstrating the pros-and-cons of a gastric operation for a duodenal ulcer.