[Influence of various forms of vagotomy on the exocrine function of the pancres]

In surgical treatment of the duodenal ulcer a selective proximal vagotomy is the only method to vagotomize parietal cell area of the stomach alone and to let the motoric and endocrine function of the antrum, as well as the vagal innervation of the liver, the pancreas and the gut indisturbed. Our experimental investigations on dogs with total and selective proximal vagotomy show, that an intact vagal innervation of the pancreas is important for its normal function and that selective proximal vagotomy does not change the exocrine pancreatic secretion. Otherwise a total vagotomy diminishes significantly the pancreatic production of volume and enzymes after insulin stimulation. In respect of the vagal innervation and normal function of the pancreas, a selective proximal vagotomy therefore seems to be the best method in surgical treatment of the duodenal ulcer.