Excretion of fat after vagotomy alone and in combination with pyloroplasty: an experimental study.

Abstract

Faeces were collected for five days so as to obtain a repre sentative daily stool excretion. At the end of the faecal collec tion the total excretion of fat was estimated by the technique of Kamer, Huinink, and Weyers (1949). For one day preced ing and for the total duration of the collection the dogs were fed a diet consisting of 1.3 g. of fat and 200 calories/kg. body weight. The diet was composed of boiled, sliced ox liver. Total vagotomy was performed on 10 dogs by the trans thoracic route, via the left sixth interspace. Anterior selective vagotomy was accomplished, also in 10 dogs, via a long left subcostal incision. The hepatic branches of the anterior vagus were identified without difficulty, and preserved, as they passed in the lesser omentum to the porta hepatis. Most of the dogs after vagotomy without drainage vomited in the immediate post-operative phase, but were nevertheless able to maintain their fluid and electrolyte balance by means of oral feeding. However, two dogs required 2 litres each of normal saline subcutaneously because of more severe vomiting. By the time the faecal collection was undertaken post-operatively the tendency to vomit had subsided and the diet was then taken normally. Pyloroplasty was of the Heineke-Mikulicz type and was per formed alone on seven dogs, the incision through the pylorus extending for 6 cm. This was closed with a continuous 2/0 chromic catgut suture.