Laparoscopic vagotomy and open pyloroplasty for bleeding duodenal ulcer not controlled endoscopically

The majority of our patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer responded to endoscopic injection treatment. However, in six patients admitted during a 2 1/2-year period, we were forced to do emergency surgery to control the hemorrhage (three with failed injection and persisting exsanguination from a brisk bleeder and three rebled soon after apparent initial hemostasis). We performed an innovative procedure: pyloroplasty was done after oversewing the arterial bleeder in the duodenum through a small transverse wound in the right upper quadrant. The wound was then closed around a 10-mm trocar sheath. With the addition of three more ports, a truncal vagotomy was completed laparoscopically. Recovery was rapid and uneventful in all six cases; postoperative pain was minimal. The mean operative time was 85 minutes. We believe that, in a selected group of patients, laparoscopic vagotomy and open pyloroplasty through an essentially extended port wound (as described in detail) is an expedient and effective procedure in the emergency setting.