Parietal cell vagotomy for duodenal and pyloric ulcers: I. Clinical factors leading to failure of the operation

Abstract

In a prospective study, 170 consecutive unselected patients with duodenal (n = 115) or pyloric (n = 55) ulcers underwent elective parietal cell vagotomy, with an additional drainage procedure in patients with stenosis. The patients were classified in two consecutive groups and were followed up for 3 to 7 years after operation, in 132 cases for more than 5 years. The follow-up was complete. Patients with symptoms suggestive of ulcer for more than 3 days, independent of roentgenographic or endoscopic findings, were classified as having symptoms of recurrent ulcer and were specially analyzed. There was no mortality; splenic injuries occurred in 5 cases (3 percent), dumping symptoms in 4 percent after parietal cell vagotomy but in 34 percent after vagotomy plus drainage. Diarrhea occurred in 3 percent of the patients after parietal cell vagotomy and in 20 percent after vagotomy plus drainage. Fifty-five patients had clinical recurrences, significantly more patients with pyloric ulcer (46 percent) than with duodenal ulcer (28 percent). In 27 patients, the symptoms responded well to conservative therapy. In the other 28 patients the symptoms were severe, and 14 underwent reoperation for proven recurrent ulcers. The difference in the recurrence rates for duodenal and pyloric ulcer was found only in patients who did not undergo a drainage procedure, while pyloric ulcer patients with stenosis and a drainage operation were comparable in this respect to duodenal ulcer patients with and without drainage. A decrease in the rate of recurrence was achieved between the earlier and later parts of the series, even considering the difference in length of follow-up. The decrease is considered to reflect mainly our increased experience with the method. The results in patients in the later part of the series, followed up for more than 5 years, were a 22 percent incidence of recurrent ulcer symptoms and an 8 percent incidence of proven recurrent ulcers in those with duodenal ulcer, and a 28 percent incidence of recurrent ulcer symptoms and a 22 percent incidence of proven recurrent ulcers in those with pyloric ulcer. The overall results in patients followed up to more than 5 years, according to a modified Visick scale which incorporates differences in the severity of recurrent ulcer symptoms and the results after reoperation, were satisfactory in 89 percent of the patients with duodenal ulcer and in 73 percent of those with pyloric ulcer.