Should it be parietal cell vagotomy or selective vagotomy-antrectomy for treatment of duodenal ulcer? A progress report

The Phantom Satiation Hypothesis of Bariatric Surgery

The excitation of vagal mechanoreceptors located in the stomach wall directly contributes to satiation. Thus, a loss of gastric innervation would normally be expected to result in abrogated satiation, hyperphagia, and unwanted weight gain. While Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass (RYGB) inevitably results in gastric denervation, paradoxically, bypassed subjects continue to experience satiation. Inspired by the literature in neurology on phantom limbs, I propose a new hypothesis in which damage to the stomach innervation during RYGB, including its vagal supply, leads to large-scale maladaptive changes in viscerosensory nerves and connected brain circuits. As a result, satiation may continue to arise, sometimes at exaggerated levels, even in subjects with a denervated or truncated stomach. The same maladaptive changes may also contribute to dysautonomia, unexplained pain, and new emotional responses to eating. I further revisit the metabolic benefits of bariatric surgery, with an emphasis on RYGB, in the light of this phantom satiation hypothesis.

[Surgical treatment of ulcerative pyloroduodenal stenosis]

AIM

To obtain the most reliable information about surgical treatment of ulcerative pyloroduodenal stenosis based on the methodology of evidence-based medicine.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Searching platforms were elibrary, Cochrane Library and PubMed database. The probability of major systematic errors in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was evaluated.

RESULTS

Systematic review included 20 RCTs for the period 1968-2009 with overall sample of 1794 patients. Evaluation of external validity allows to generalize the results of these studies to the entire population of patients with ulcerative pyloroduodenal stenosis. Assessment of internal validity based on the number of systematic errors showed that 7 (35%) of 20 of RCTs corresponded to the highest level of evidence (level 1), 13 (65%) of 20 had systematic errors and were downgraded in the rating (level 1-). Significant heterogeneity of RCTs impedes metaanalysis. Conclusions and practical recommendations for the treatment of ulcerative pyloroduodenal stenosis are formed according to the results of individual RCTs.

CONCLUSION

Selective vagotomy may be performed for functional stenosis. In case of organic stenosis, truncal vagotomy should be combined with drainage surgery (pyloroplasty, gastroenterostomy) or Roux/Billroth-1 antrectomy. Treatment of decompensated stenosis within evidence-based medicine is unclear. We have not identified target researches with evidence level 1 for this form of stenosis.

Dumping syndrome: pathophysiology and treatment

Anatomic and physiologic changes introduced by gastric surgery result in clinically significant dumping syndrome in approximately 10% of patients. Dumping is the effect of alteration in the motor functions of the stomach, including disturbances in the gastric reservoir and transporting function. Gastrointestinal hormones play an important role in dumping by mediating responses to surgical resection. Treatment options of dumping syndrome include diet, medications, and surgical revision. Poor nutrition status can be anticipated in patients who fail conservative therapy. Management of refractory dumping syndrome can be a challenge. This review highlights current knowledge about the mechanisms of dumping syndrome and available therapy.

Long-term results of duodenectomy with highly selective vagotomy in the treatment of complicated duodenal ulcers

BACKGROUND

Highly selective vagotomy and complete circular or partial duodenectomy have been applied to complicated duodenal ulcer for many years. These procedures seem to provide better clinical results than truncal vagotomy and antrectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 120 patients with complicated duodenal ulcer who underwent surgical treatment between 1986 and 1999. Patients with obstruction were treated with either circular complete (17) or partial duodenectomy (3) combined with highly selective vagotomy or truncal vagotomy and antrectomy (37). Those with perforation were treated primarily with highly selective vagotomy and partial duodenectomy, highly selective vagotomy alone, or truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Every patient was followed up either by a clinic visit (75%) or questionnaire to determine the presence of ulcer pain, dumping, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and Visick grade.

RESULTS

Long-term follow-up of patients treated with duodenectomy and highly selective vagotomy for obstruction showed that 94% had sustained weight gain whereas more than half of those treated with truncal vagotomy and antrectomy had weight loss. In patients with perforation, duodenectomy and highly selective vagotomy offered no advantage over highly selective vagotomy alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Highly selective vagotomy and complete circular or partial duodenectomy provide fewer sequelae and better weight gain long term than truncal vagotomy and antrectomy for patients with obstructing duodenal ulcers.

Differences in gastric emptying between highly selective vagotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy combined with anterior seromyotomy

Gastric emptying has been reported to be both delayed and unchanged following posterior truncal vagotomy combined with anterior seromyotomy (PTV + AS). When compared to highly selective vagotomy (HSV), our clinical experience was that PTV + AS not uncommonly produced postprandial distress. We studied gastric emptying of both liquids and solids 3 and 12 months following HSV and PTV + AS to determine what if any differences there were in gastric emptying between the two procedures. We compared these results with those from studies done in both normal subjects and unoperated duodenal ulcer patients. In 26 duodenal ulcer patients with perforation (n = 18) or bleeding (n = 8), who were treated with HSV (n = 10) or PTV + AS (n = 16), gastric emptying of liquids and solids was evaluated at 3 months and 12 months postoperatively. At 3 months, gastric emptying of liquids was delayed in both the HSV and PTV + AS groups as compared to values in both normal subjects and unoperated duodenal ulcer patients. The emptying of solids was markedly delayed by PTV + AS in contrast to HSV at 3 months (167.1 +/- 28.4 minutes vs. 79.9 +/- 16.7 minutes; P <0.05). The lag duration was not affected. A limited number of patients studied at 12 months showed similar and near-normal emptying of solids in both the HSV and PTV + AS groups (67.5 +/- 7.0 minutes vs. 70 +/- 6.6 minutes). PTV + AS in contrast to HSV produces more marked delayed emptying of liquids and solids at 3 months; with time (1 year) these values return to near normal.

Mudanças na vascularização arterial da curvatura menor do estômago após gastrectomia segmentar associada à vagotomia gástrica proximal em cães

Para avaliar os efeitos da gastrectomia segmentar do corpo associada à vagotomia gástrica proximal (GS + VGP), sobre a vascularização arterial da curvatura menor do estômago, foram utilizados 24 cães distribuídos em dois grupos de 12 animais, com as seguintes denominações: Grupo I, animais submetidos à laparotomia e manipulação gástrica; Grupo II, animais submetidos à GS + VGP. Em cada grupo, metade dos animais foi sacrificada no terceiro, metade no oitavo dia pós- operatório. No dia do sacrifício, procedeu-se à injeção de mistura de bário-gelatina, na vascularização arterial do estômago. A seguir, o estômago foi removido do animal, fixado em solução de formol, aberto pela curvatura maior e radiografado com técnica padronizada. A intensidade da vascularização da curvatura menor do estômago foi determinada por microdensitometria e morfometria. Pela microdensitometria, foram determinados os valores de densidade óptica, convertidos em equivalentes de milímetros de alumínio, da imagem radiográfica da curvatura menor do estômago. Com base nesses resultados, verificou-se que os valores médios de densidade óptica do grupo II foram significativamente maiores do que o grupo I (p<0,001). Pelo estudo morfométrico de fragmento histológico da curvatura menor, observou-se que os valores médios de volume relativo das arteríolas, em relação ao volume total da camada submucosa, foram significativamente maiores no grupo II em comparação ao grupo I (p<0,001). Os valores médios dos diâmetros das arteríolas da camada submucosa foram significativamente mais elevados no grupo II que no grupo I (p<0,001). O número de arteríolas por mm2 da camada submucosa não diferiu significativamente entre os dois grupos (p>0,05). Embora a execução da GS + VGP implique desvascularização da curvatura menor do estômago, observou-se aumento da intensidade da vascularização arterial desta curvatura nos animais do grupo II, conseqüente à dilatação das arteríolas da camada submucosa.

Ulcer recurrence after gastric surgery: is Helicobacter pylori the culprit?

OBJECTIVES

Helicobacter pylori is the most important cause of recurrent peptic ulcer disease. However, its role in ulcer recurrence after peptic ulcer surgery is unclear. We aimed at studying the prevalence and distribution of H. pylori in patients who had undergone peptic ulcer surgery, and any association between H. pylori infection and ulcer recurrence in these patients.

METHODS

Patients with previous vagotomy or partial gastrectomy presenting with dyspepsia or ulcer bleeding were recruited. Ulcer recurrence was documented by endoscopy. Biopsy specimens were taken from the gastric remnant and gastroenteric anastomosis in patients with previous partial gastrectomy, or from the antrum and corpus in vagotomized patients. H. pylori infection was detected by either a positive rapid urease test or the presence of the bacteria on histology.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were studied; 73 patients (78%) had partial gastrectomy and 20 (22%) had vagotomy with drainage. H. pylori infection was documented in 36 patients (49%) in the gastrectomy group and in 13 (65%) in the vagotomy group. Thirty-six patients in the gastrectomy group had recurrent ulcers and 15 (42%) of them had H. pylori infection. Twelve patients in the vagotomy group had recurrent ulcers and eight (67%) of them were H. pylori positive. The prevalence of H. pylori infection did not differ between patients with or without ulcer recurrence.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori infection cannot account for ulcer recurrence after peptic ulcer surgery.

The relationships of the bile duct and the retroduodenal arteries and their importance in the surgical treatment of hemorrhagic duodenal ulcer

The anatomic relationships of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) and the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPD) with the bile duct in their retroduodenal courses were studied in 35 bloc specimens from normal cadavers, injected after removal. The distances between the GDA, the pylorus, and the bile duct were measured in the sagittal plane. The origin and course of the PSPD in relation to the bile duct were studied. The relation of the GDA and the bile duct were divisable into four types: in Type 1 (n = 22) the two structures separated progressively, the artery being on the left of the bile ducts; in Type 2: (n = 7) the structures approached each other without crossing, Type 3: (n = 5) the GDA crossed in front of the bile duct at the level of the first part of the duodenum (D1), Type 4: (n = 1) the GDA crossed the bile duct below D1 and ran along its right border. The PSPD originated at the posterior face of D1 in 20% of cases (n = 7) and crossed the anterior surface of the bile duct at the posterior surface of D1. In four cases there was no pancreatic tissue between the PSPD and the bile ducs. It follows that the risk of injury to the bile duct when securing hemostasis by transfixing a bleeding duodenal ulcer in the D1 segment is great when the arterial structures (GDA and PSPD) cross the bile duct. This risk is increased when there is no pancreatic tissue between them.

Perforated pyloroduodenal ulcers. Long-term results with omental patch closure and parietal cell vagotomy

OBJECTIVE

The authors evaluated parietal cell vagotomy and omental patch closure as treatment for perforated pyloroduodenal ulcers.

BACKGROUND DATA

Since the beginning of the century, there has been a difference of opinion as to whether perforated pyloroduodenal ulcers are best managed with nonoperative treatment, simple closure, or definitive treatment, i.e., a procedure that handles the emergency problem and simultaneously provides protection against further ulcer disease. The criticism of using definitive treatment at the time of perforation has been that some patients who might not have recurrent ulcer, if a definitive operation was not performed, would be at risk of adverse postoperative sequelae, including death. Parietal cell vagotomy as treatment of intractable duodenal ulcer disease was shown to be almost without complications. The objective of this study was to determine if the operation was equally applicable to perforated pyloroduodenal ulcers.

METHODS

A group of 107 selected patients with perforated pyloroduodenal ulcers underwent definitive treatment by omental patch closure and parietal cell vagotomy. The patients were evaluated prospectively on an annual basis up to 21 years. Gastric analyses were performed on each visit for which the patient gave his/her consent. Patients suspected of a recurrent ulcer were examined endoscopically for verification.

RESULTS

There was one death (0.9%). Ninety-three patients were observed for follow-up for 2 to 21 years. The recurrent ulcer rate by life table analysis was 7.4%. The reoperative rate was 1.9%. Postoperative gastric sequelae were insignificant. All but four patients were graded Visick I or II at the time of their last evaluation.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that the combination of parietal cell vagotomy and omental patch closure is an excellent choice for treatment of patients with perforated pyloroduodenal ulcers, who, by virtue of their age, fitness, and status of the peritoneal cavity are candidates for definitive surgery. Virtually none of the morbidity that occurs with other forms of definitive treatment is inflicted on patients who might never have needed a definitive operation if simple closure was performed. At the same time, it provides definitive therapy for the larger number of patients who subsequently would have required a second operation for continued ulcer disease if simple closure alone was performed. Whether this operation is performed at the time of perforation should depend on the presence or absence of risk factors, rather than whether the ulcer is acute or chronic.

Anterior lesser curve seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy versus proximal gastric vagotomy: results of a prospective randomized trial 3-8 years after surgery

In a prospective randomized trial, anterior lesser curve seromytomy with posterior truncal vagotomy (ASPTV, n = 50) was compared with proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV, n = 50). Most of our patients were young men with ASA grade I risk, and 80% were expatriates. They were followed up for 3 to 8 years after surgery. The mean reductions of basal acid output (BAO) and insulin-stimulated peak acid output (IPAO) were 85% and 88%, respectively, soon after surgery for both ASPTV and PGV groups. These values remained at 70% and 60% of their preoperative level for 1 year. Good to excellent results (Visick I and II) were recorded in 76% of cases in both groups. The recurrent ulcer rate was 14% for PGV and 12% for ASPTV. This trial suggests that for the treatment of duodenal ulcer ASPTV is as good an operation as PGV.

Twenty years after parietal cell vagotomy or selective vagotomy antrectomy for treatment of duodenal ulcer. Final report

OBJECTIVE

This study was a prospective, randomized evaluation of parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) and selective vagotomy-antrectomy (SV-A) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND DATA

Operative treatment of duodenal ulcer is associated with mortality and mechanical and metabolic morbidity. At the time that surgeons appear to have succeeded in developing operations with low morbidity and mortality, the number of patients requiring elective operation has decreased partly because of the simultaneous, dramatic improvement in medical therapy. Nevertheless, surgical therapy still is important, especially in certain socioeconomic environments.

METHODS

After a pilot study of PCV, 200 patients with duodenal ulcers were randomized to PCV or SV-A. One surgeon was responsible for the operations and follow-up studies. An attempt was made to evaluate all patients annually in the hospital. Gastric analyses were performed on each visit, for which the patient gave his/her consent.

RESULTS

There was no operative mortality. The recurrence rate-by-life table analysis was less (p < 0.003) after SV-A than PCV. Dumping was greater (p < 0.001), and there was no difference in the frequency of diarrhea after SV-A compared with PCV. The percentage of patients with grades Visick I or Visick II was not different for the two operations, but more patients were graded Visick I after PCV than after SV-A.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective vagotomy-antrectomy and parietal cell vagotomy are effective and safe operations, when used appropriately. Selective vagotomy-antrectomy is preferable for patients with pyloric and prepyloric ulcers and pyloric obstruction. Parietal cell vagotomy is the authors' choice for duodenal ulcer patients because of the occasional patient who becomes disabled by SV-A.

[Billroth I hemigastrectomy in complicated recurrent ulcer after selective proximal vagotomy]

The outcome of Billroth I hemigastrectomy for complicated recurrent ulcers after proximal selective vagotomy (PSV) for duodenal ulcer was analyzed in a retrospective study of 15 patients followed up for 15-81 months (mean 3.8 years) postoperatively. Bleeding was reported in 4, stenosis in 5, penetration in 3, perforation in 1 and refractory ulcer in 2 cases. None of the patients died during revision surgery, and none developed ulcer recurrence. In 4 patients complications were seen, including bleeding requiring relaparotomy (1) and subhepatic hematoma (3). In 12 patients (80%) a good or excellent result (Visick I/II) was seen at follow-up. Reasons for Visick III or Visick IV classification were reflux esophagitis grades I and II in 2 cases and refractory dyspeptic symptoms in 1 case. Distal gastric resection with a Billroth I anastomosis for complicated recurrent ulcer after PSV proved to involve only low morbidity and to effect reliable prophylaxis of ulcer recurrence in the long term.

Prospective randomized study comparing three surgical techniques for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction secondary to duodenal ulcer

A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed in order to evaluate the results of three surgical techniques for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction secondary to duodenal ulcer. Ninety patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of gastric retention were enrolled. After laparotomy, patients underwent either highly selective vagotomy (HSV) + gastrojejunostomy, HSV + Jaboulay gastroduodenostomy, or selective vagotomy (SV) + antrectomy. One patient died after HSV + Jaboulay gastroduodenostomy due to postoperative acute pancreatitis. There were no differences in the postoperative course of the three groups. Patients were followed for a mean of 98 months (range: 30 to 156 months). There was a significantly better result after HSV + gastrojejunostomy than after Jaboulay anastomosis (p < 0.01), but not after SV + antrectomy. Gastric acid reduction was similar in the small group of patients studied. We propose HSV + gastrojejunostomy as the treatment of choice in patients with duodenal ulcer and gastric outlet obstruction.

Proximal gastric vagotomy and anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy assessed by the endoscopic congo red test

The completeness of vagotomy following proximal gastric vagotomy or anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy was assessed prospectively in 48 patients using the intraoperative congo red test. Pentagastrin (6 micrograms/kg) was given subcutaneously before the assessment. An endoscope was passed into the stomach and 180 ml congo red solution washed over the gastric mucosa. Continuing acid production was indicated by the appearance of a black colour (pH < 3) 2 min after introduction of the dye. A grading system was adopted where grades I and II showed little black discoloration and grades III and IV showed increasing areas of discoloration indicating that further denervation was required. All 20 patients undergoing anterior seromyotomy with posterior vagotomy were classified as grade I. Fifteen of an initial 23 patients receiving proximal gastric vagotomy were grade III or IV. Following division of either the right gastroepiploic nerve or the posterior vagal trunk, 22 patients improved to grade I (16) or II (six). In the subsequent five proximal vagotomies, modification of the dissection produced grade I results. Anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy gave consistently complete vagotomy. The congo red test highlighted major differences in the adequacy of vagotomy achieved using various dissection techniques during proximal gastric vagotomy. The test is a useful, reproducible and simple intraoperative method for assessing the completeness of denervation.

Relationship between gastric acid secretion and the rate of recurrent ulcer after parietal cell vagotomy

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the effect of gastric secretion on the rate of recurrent ulcer after parietal cell vagotomy for duodenal ulcer.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Three hundred patients who underwent parietal cell vagotomy for duodenal ulcer between 1975 and 1986 were evaluated. The mean follow-up period for 280 patients was 5 years.

METHODS

The gastric secretion tests concerned basal acid output (BAO) and peak acid output stimulated by pentagastrin or insulin. Tests were preoperative for 172 patients and postoperative for 118.

RESULTS

At the end of that time, the overall incidence of symptomatic recurrent ulcer was 15%. Two criteria were shown to be important predictors of recurrent ulcer: preoperative BAO > 7 mmol/hr, for which the recurrence rate 5 years after vagotomy was 30% versus 11% for values below this threshold (p = 0.01), and postoperative BAO > 1.4 mmol/hr, for which the recurrence rate at 5 years was 72% versus 8% for lower values (p = 0.0001). All patients with recurrent ulcer had either a postoperative BAO > 7 mmol/hr and/or a postoperative reduction in BAO < 80%.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative BAO > 7 mmol/hr and postoperative BAO > 1.4 mmol/hr were shown to be factors predictive of RU. All patients with RU presented either with preoperative BAO > 7 mmol/hr and/or a reduction in BAO < 80%. Consequently, in our opinion, these criteria could be used either to select patients for vagotomy or to assess the effectiveness of vagotomy of different types, especially those performed by celioscopy.

Twelve-year follow-up of a prospective, randomized trial of selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty and selective proximal vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty for the treatment of duodenal, pyloric, and prepyloric ulcers

Between 1973 and 1981, 161 patients with prepyloric, pyloric, or duodenal ulcers were randomly allocated to selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy alone. No significant differences in clinical results were found 3 years after surgery by Emås and Fernström (Am J Surg 1985; 149: 236-42). There was one postoperative death, and one patient lost to follow-up. Of 159 patients, 52 underwent selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, 55 selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, and 52 selective proximal vagotomy alone. Fifteen patients did not undergo endoscopy, but they had no epigastric complaints. From 1 to 16 years after surgery, recurrent ulcer was detected in 13%, 18%, and 23%, respectively, after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy without pyloroplasty. Twenty-eight percent of the patients with recurrent ulcer had no symptoms and received no treatment. Sixteen patients died within 8 years after surgery of causes unrelated to the ulcer disease. At their final examination, 14 of the 16 patients had Visick I or II (modified Visick scale) results, and the disease that caused their deaths obscured evaluation in 2 patients. The remaining 143 patients were followed up for 8 to 16 years (average: 12 years). Epigastric pain with or without ulcer was recorded more often (significant) after selective proximal vagotomy alone (40%) than after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty (17%) or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (14%). Bowel habits were unchanged in 96% of patients who underwent selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and 100% of patients who had selective proximal vagotomy alone. Mild dumping tended to be more common after vagotomy with pyloroplasty but was a minor nuisance in only a few patients. Very good or good results (Visick I or II) were recorded in 75% of the patients after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and in 54% after selective proximal vagotomy alone (significant difference). Seventeen patients underwent reoperation with antrectomy and gastrojejunostomy Roux-en-Y (13 patients) or gastroduodenostomy (4 patients) with no mortality. The results of the reoperations were graded as Visick I or II results in all but one patient. The final grading, including the reoperations, were Visick I or II in 85% of patients after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty and selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and in 55% after selective proximal vagotomy alone (significant difference).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Proximal gastric vagotomy: follow-up at 10-20 years

From August 1969 to December 1989, 600 patients had elective proximal gastric vagotomy for duodenal ulceration with an operative mortality of 0.2 per cent. Of these, 372 patients had surgery over 10 years ago. Three hundred and forty-two patients survived for more than 10 years and, in a prospective study, 305 were reviewed, forming the basis of this 10-20-year follow-up report. Forty-six (15 per cent) have had recurrent ulceration; 80 per cent of these developed symptoms within 5 years and no patient has had recurrence after 13 years. Although 29 patients required reoperation for recurrent ulceration, the current patient satisfaction rate for Visick grades I and II is 92 per cent. Only two patients required reoperation because of gastric stasis. It is concluded that proximal gastric vagotomy is a safe and satisfactory first choice operation for duodenal ulceration.

Proximal gastric vagotomy in the emergency treatment of bleeding duodenal ulcer

Proximal gastric vagotomy for bleeding duodenal ulcer was performed in 52 low-risk patients between 1973 and 1986. Duodenotomy without violation of the pylorus was done in all patients to allow inspection and control of the bleeding site. The median duration of operation was 3 hours and 20 minutes, although 25% of the procedures required 4 or more hours. There was no postoperative mortality and no early reoperations. Among the six patients with postoperative complications, one rebled from the ulcer and two developed prolonged gastric atony. At the time of follow-up (median, 2.9 years), 48 of the patients were alive and 4 had died of non-ulcer causes. No patient had significant postvagotomy sequelae. Ulcer recurrence was documented in six patients, and three required reoperation. Proximal gastric vagotomy is a safe, effective therapy for bleeding duodenal ulcer. Because of the length of the operation, it should be restricted to low-risk patients who are hemodynamically stable at the time of operation.

Highly selective vagotomy 5-15 years on

Highly selective vagotomy for duodenal ulcer was performed on 307 patients between 1973 and 1983 without operative mortality. Of these, 283 (92.2 per cent) were followed up prospectively for a minimum of 5 years. Recurrent ulcer was diagnosed in 49 (17.3 per cent). The recurrent ulcer rate increased from 13.2 per cent at 5 years to 19.4 per cent at 12 years. Age, length of history, previous haemorrhage or perforation and preoperative acid output were not associated with increased risk of recurrent ulceration. The risk in men and smokers was higher but not significantly so. The recurrence rate for individual surgeons varied from 5.3 to 25.6 per cent. Failure of healing with H2-receptor antagonists was not associated with a higher recurrent ulcer rate. Patients with a strong family history (more than one first degree relative affected) had a significantly higher recurrence rate (33.2 per cent at 10 years) than those without (13.5 per cent at 10 years). Of the 49 recurrent ulcer patients, 30 (61.2 per cent) required either an operation or regular H2-receptor antagonists. Of the 250 patients (81.4 per cent) available in 1988 for review of symptoms 5-15 years after operation, 5.4 per cent had dumping, 8.9 per cent epigastric pain, and 11.8 per cent heartburn every day or most days. H2-receptor antagonists were required by 10.7 per cent of patients on a frequent or regular basis. Of 239 patients who answered the question, 218 (91.2 per cent) felt that their symptoms had been cured or greatly improved and 203 (84.9) considered the operation a success. Despite the high recurrence rate, the operation was successful in controlling ulcer symptoms in around 90 per cent of patients and produced postvagotomy symptoms--none severe--in around 5 per cent of patients.

Indications for parietal cell vagotomy without drainage in gastrointestinal surgery

Parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) was used for a variety of gastrointestinal conditions in 658 patients. Operative and late related deaths after PCV were 1.1% (3/273) in patients with intractable duodenal ulcers, 1.1% (1/91) in perforated ulcers, 0% (0/43) in Type I gastric ulcers, 0% (0/45) in pyloric and prepyloric ulcers, 3.2% (6/188) when combined with fundoplication, 8.7% (2/23) when combined with vascular surgery, and 4.2% (1/24) in ulcer patients with acute bleeding. The recurrent ulcer rate after PCV was 8.4% in patients operated on for duodenal ulcer, 6.4% for perforated ulcer, 5.3% for bleeding ulcers, 10% for Type I gastric ulcers, and 31% for pyloric and prepyloric ulcers. PCV was preferred to total gastrectomy in four patients in whom a gastrinoma could not be located. PCV was used in 188 patients with reflux esophagitis and in 12 patients with achalasia to facilitate fundoplication and placement of the myotomy, respectively. Based on the results of the study, PCV is contraindicated in patients with pyloric and prepyloric ulcers. PCV is not recommended when traumatic dilatation of the pylorus is required to overcome obstruction. PCV may have limited application in patients with bleeding ulcers and Type I gastric ulcers. In our experience PCV is not contraindicated in patients with ulcers resistant to H2 receptor antagonists. PCV may be contraindicated when acid hypersecretion exceeds an as-yet undetermined level. PCV is an ideal procedure for intractable duodenal ulcers and perforated ulcers.

Current status of proximal gastric vagotomy

Proximal gastric vagotomy is nearing its twentieth year in clinical use as an operation for peptic ulcer disease. No other acid-reducing operation has undergone as much scrutiny or study. At this time, the evidence of such studies and long-term follow-up strongly supports the use of proximal gastric vagotomy as the treatment of choice for chronic duodenal ulcer in patients who have failed medical therapy. Its application in treating the complications of peptic ulcer disease, which recently have come to represent an increasingly greater percentage of all operations done for peptic ulcer disease, is well-tested. However, initial series suggest that it should probably occupy a prominent role in treating some of these complications, particularly in selected patients, in the future. The operation has the well-documented ability to reduce gastric acid production, not inhibit gastric bicarbonate production, and also minimally inhibit gastric motility. The combination of these physiologic results after proximal gastric vagotomy, along with preservation of the normal antropyloroduodenal mechanism of gastrointestinal control, serve to allow patients with proximal gastric vagotomy the improved benefits of significantly fewer severe gastrointestinal side effects than are seen after other operations for peptic ulcer disease.

Parietal cell vagotomy and truncal vagotomy in elective duodenal ulcer surgery--results after six to twelve years

In a randomized trial between 1974 and 1980, parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) was compared with truncal vagotomy (TV) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer in 106 patients. After a mean period of 3.9 years no significant differences were found between PCV and TV patients with respect to Visick grading and recurrence rates. Nor did the preoperative location of the ulcer-prepyloric or duodenal-significantly influence the recurrences. The latter follow-up reported in 1981, showed that PCV was not superior to TV. The present paper describes a re-analysis of the same material in 1985. After a mean observation time of 8.7 years no significant differences in the ulcer recurrence rate were found between PCV and TV. Equal patient satisfaction with the two procedures was found. In patients with prepyloric ulcers, preoperatively, there was a higher recurrence rate among those who had undergone PCV than TV.

Highly selective vagotomy and duodenal ulcers that fail to respond to H2 receptor antagonists

A study was conducted to see whether patients with duodenal ulcers that failed to heal in response to H2 receptor antagonists had a higher incidence of recurrent ulceration after highly selective vagotomy than patients whose ulcers healed with these drugs. Between 1977 and 1983, 157 patients had a highly selective vagotomy for uncomplicated duodenal ulcer; in 57 patients the ulcer had failed to heal despite treatment with H2 receptor antagonists (refractory group), 19 patients had developed recurrent ulceration while receiving maintenance treatment, 67 patients had remained healed while taking H2 receptor antagonists but suffered frequent relapses when treatment was stopped, and 14 patients had not been given these drugs before operation. The overall incidence of recurrent ulceration was 6% after two years and 11% after five years of follow up. In the refractory group, however, the incidence of recurrent ulceration was 18% at two years and 34% after five years, whereas the incidence of recurrence was only 1.5% at two years and 3% after five years in patients whose ulcers had healed with H2 receptor antagonists. Resistance to H2 receptor antagonists was not related to preoperative basal or peak acid output but was related to cigarette smoking. Factors associated with recurrent ulceration after highly selective vagotomy were basal acid outputs before and after operation, cigarette smoking, and the surgeon who performed the operation. Duodenal ulcers that fail to respond to H2 receptor antagonists represent a more severe ulcer diathesis, for which highly selective vagotomy is less effective.

Perforated peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer disease has declined significantly since 1950 in industrialized nations. However, the number of patients with perforated and bleeding ulcers has been constant or has declined only slightly, except for older patients, in whom the frequency has increased. In patients with perforated ulcers, operative management is preferable to non-operative treatment. The operative choices are simple closure of the perforation or definitive surgery. Patients who have significant risk factors should undergo simple closure. Closure of the ulcer with parietal cell vagotomy is the author's first choice for definitive operative treatment when this procedure can be performed.

[Recurrent gastroduodenal ulcer: controversies in primary and secondary interventions]

Today controversial points of view in ulcer surgery are related to operative tactics. In principal resective and non-resective procedures and the type of anastomosis are discussed. Physiopathological criteria for decision are the effects on acid reduction, motility, intestinal acid exposure and entero-gastric reflux. Therapeutic security and the frequency of side effects are determined by these parameters. Postpyloric ulcer remains the domain of vagotomy. Gastric ulcers should be resected or treated by a combined procedure. In reconstructing the gastrointestinal tract the dualism of residual acid and postresectional reflux must be taken into account.