Parietal cell vagotomy without drainage: advantages and clinical applications

Parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) without drainage for the elective treatment of duodenal ulcer is a safe procedure. All studies are in agreement that there were fewer gastric complaints following this procedure than after any other type of operative treatment. Dumping occurred in 9% and diarrhea in 3% of our 188 patients. The diarrhea and dumping were mild, easily controlled, and not disabling in any patient. The low rate of recurrent ulcer (3%) suggests that PCV is an effective operation. Considerably more follow-up time is required before this highly rational operation for duodenal ulcer can be considered the successful procedure that the present evidence suggests. The operation is relatively easy to perform, but it does require operative finesse and training which are best acquired in an operating room working with a surgeon who has demonstrated good results with PCV. This will spare beginners the disappointment of an unnecessary high failure rate.