Incidence Of Ulcer Recurrence Research Articles

Evaluating the Efficacy of Topical Phenytoin in the Healing of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Comparative Study.

This study aims to observe the outcomes of topical phenytoin treatment in healing neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers with mild infection and compare these outcomes with those obtained from conventional dressing methods. A retrospective observational study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of patients with neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers treated at a tertiary care center from 2015 to 2020. Two groups were identified: (1) patients treated with topical phenytoin (for ulcers measuring less than 5 cm, a dosage of 100 mg was used; for ulcers measuring between 5 cm and 9 cm, a dosage of 150 mg was used; for ulcers measuring between 10 cm and 15 cm, a dosage of 200 mg was used; and for ulcers measuring greater than 15 cm, a dosage of 300 mg was used. The tablets were crushed and dispersed before administration) and (2) those were treated with conventional dressings (the conventional method includes wound wash with 0.9 normal saline and betadine solution with application of sterile gauze dressing). Data on wound healing rate, time to achieve complete healing, and recurrence rates were collected. The study included 120 patients, with 60 receiving topical phenytoin and 60 receiving conventional dressings. Preliminary findings indicated that the topical phenytoin group experienced a 27 (45%) reduction in ulcer size by week four, compared to a 15 (25%) reduction in the conventional group. The median time to complete healing was significantly shorter in the phenytoin group (eight weeks) compared to the conventional dressing group (12 weeks; p < 0.05). Additionally, granulation tissue appeared earlier in the phenytoin group, with an average onset of 10 days, compared to 18 days in the conventional group (p < 0.01). The incidence of ulcer recurrence was lower in the phenytoin group (6, 10%) compared to the conventional group (18, 30%; p < 0.05). Topical phenytoin demonstrated a promising enhancement in the healing of mildly infected neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers compared to conventional dressings. Further studies are recommended to substantiate these findings and explore the mechanisms underlying the observed benefits.

Cooling Intervention (MUSTCOOL) for Prevention of Lower Extremity Ulcer Recurrence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to test our MUSTCOOL cooling patch intervention on the incidence of venous leg (VLU) and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) recurrence over a previously healed wound. A 6-month randomized controlled trial. The target population was individuals with previously healed ulcers receiving care in outpatient wound centers in the Southeastern region of the United States. The sample comprised 140 individuals with recently healed ulcers; their average age was 62.4 years (SD = 12 years); 86 (61.4%) were male; and 47 (33.6%) were Black or African American. Participants were randomized to the MUSTCOOL or placebo patch. Both groups received instructions to apply the patch 3 times per week, and engage in standard of care including compression and leg elevation (VLU) or therapeutic footwear and hygiene (DFU). Demographic data were collected at baseline, and incidence measures taken at 1, 3, and 6 months. We also studied whether new ulcers developed on the adjacent leg or foot. Data were reported in frequencies/percentages. One hundred seventeen participants (84%) were analyzed who completed 6 months of study participation. Thirteen percent (9/69) and 17% (12/69) developed a recurrent or new VLU, respectively; 29% (14/48) and 13% (6/48) developed a recurrent or new DFU, respectively. One person in the DFU group developed both a recurrent and new ulcer. For 9 recurrent VLUs, 6 (66.7%) recurred in the MUSTCOOL group and 3 (33.3%) receiving the placebo. Of the 15 recurrent DFUs (includes individual who developed both a recurrent and new ulcer), 10 (66.7%) recurred in the MUSTCOOL group and 5 (33.3%) receiving the placebo. While the incidence of ulcer recurrent was slightly higher in the MUSTCOOL group, this finding was not considered clinically relevant. Overall ulcer recurrence during the 6-month study period was lower than reports in the literature, the time frame in which recurrence rates are highest. The study was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on December 10, 2015 (Identifier: NCT02626156)-https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02626156.

Long-term Clinical and Cost-effectiveness of Early Endovenous Ablation in Venous Ulceration

One-year outcomes from the Early Venous Reflux Ablation (EVRA) randomized trial showed accelerated venous leg ulcer healing and greater ulcer-free time for participants who are treated with early endovenous ablation of lower extremity superficial reflux. To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of early endovenous ablation of superficial venous reflux in patients with venous leg ulceration. Between October 24, 2013, and September 27, 2016, the EVRA randomized clinical trial enrolled 450 participants (450 legs) with venous leg ulceration of less than 6 months' duration and superficial venous reflux. Initially, 6555 patients were assessed for eligibility, and 6105 were excluded for reasons including ulcer duration greater than 6 months, healed ulcer by the time of randomization, deep venous occlusive disease, and insufficient superficial venous reflux to warrant ablation therapy, among others. A total of 426 of 450 participants (94.7%) from the vascular surgery departments of 20 hospitals in the United Kingdom were included in the analysis for ulcer recurrence. Surgeons, participants, and follow-up assessors were not blinded to the treatment group. Data were analyzed from August 11 to November 4, 2019. Patients were randomly assigned to receive compression therapy with early endovenous ablation within 2 weeks of randomization (early intervention, n = 224) or compression with deferred endovenous treatment of superficial venous reflux (deferred intervention, n = 226). Endovenous modality and strategy were left to the preference of the treating clinical team. The primary outcome for the extended phase was time to first ulcer recurrence. Secondary outcomes included ulcer recurrence rate and cost-effectiveness. The early-intervention group consisted of 224 participants (mean [SD] age, 67.0 [15.5] years; 127 men [56.7%]; 206 White participants [92%]). The deferred-intervention group consisted of 226 participants (mean [SD] age, 68.9 [14.0] years; 120 men [53.1%]; 208 White participants [92%]). Of the 426 participants whose leg ulcer had healed, 121 (28.4%) experienced at least 1 recurrence during follow-up. There was no clear difference in time to first ulcer recurrence between the 2 groups (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.57-1.17; P = .28). Ulcers recurred at a lower rate of 0.11 per person-year in the early-intervention group compared with 0.16 per person-year in the deferred-intervention group (incidence rate ratio, 0.658; 95% CI, 0.480-0.898; P = .003). Time to ulcer healing was shorter in the early-intervention group for primary ulcers (hazard ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.12-1.64; P = .002). At 3 years, early intervention was 91.6% likely to be cost-effective at a willingness to pay of £20 000 ($26 283) per quality-adjusted life year and 90.8% likely at a threshold of £35 000 ($45 995) per quality-adjusted life year. Early endovenous ablation of superficial venous reflux was highly likely to be cost-effective over a 3-year horizon compared with deferred intervention. Early intervention accelerated the healing of venous leg ulcers and reduced the overall incidence of ulcer recurrence. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ISRCTN02335796.

Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Ulcer Recurrence Among Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers Treated in a Multidisciplinary Setting

BackgroundRecent studies demonstrate favorable diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing outcomes with the implementation of a multidisciplinary team. We aimed to describe the incidence of and risk factors associated with ulcer recurrence after initial complete healing among a cohort of patients with DFU treated in a multidisciplinary setting. MethodsAll patients presenting to our multidisciplinary diabetic limb preservation service from 6/2012-04/2018 were enrolled in a prospective database. The incidence of ulcer recurrence after complete wound healing was assessed per limb using the Kaplan-Meier method, and a stepwise multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was created to identify independent predictors of ulcer recurrence. ResultsA total of 244 patients with 304 affected limbs were included. Ulcer recurrence rates at one and 3 y after healing were 30.6 ± 3.0% and 64.4 ± 5.2%, respectively. Recurrent ulcers were smaller (4.4 ± 1.1 cm2versus 8.2 ± 1.2 cm2; P = 0.04) and had a lower Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection stage (stage 4: 7.7% versus 22.4%; P < 0.001) than initial ulcers, and wound healing time was significantly reduced (95.0 ± 9.8 versus 131.8 ± 7.0 d; P = 0.004). Independent predictors of ulcer recurrence included abnormal proprioception (HR, 1.57 [95% CI 1.02-4.43]) and younger age (HR 1.02 per year [95% CI 1.01-1.04]). ConclusionsIn this prospective cohort of patients with DFU, time to diagnosis and healing was significantly lower for recurrent ulcers, and downstaging was common. These data suggest that engaging patients with DFU in a multidisciplinary care model with frequent follow-up and focused patient education may serve to decrease DFU morbidity.

IDENTIFIKASI DAN STRATEGI PERAWATAN ULKUS DIABETIK BERBASIS SISTEM PAKAR

Abstract The occurrence of cases of amputation due to diabetic ulcers are caused by a lack of knowledge of high society, especially patients with diabetes mellitus on the ulcer treatment. This is due to lack of awareness of personal health check and some nurses are not experts in identifying diabetic ulcers. The identification process is not done properly resulting in an error treatment. Every medical personnel have the ability to identify different diabetic ulcers, treatment strategies and appropriate health education can prevent an increase in the degree of ulcers, amputation and the incidence of recurrent ulcer. Therefore, in this study, carried out to identify the application design with a diabetic ulcer-based expert system. The application design is done in several stages. Steps being taken is the collection of data for the knowledge base, mapping logic paths, manufacture Graphic User Interface (GUI), the making inference engine, weighting and system testing to determine the level of accuracy of the system. This study resulted in the identification of applications for intelligent systems based Diabetic Ulcers with the best accuracy rate amounted 81.25%, with the number of nodes traversed is 30 to 100 nodes. Keywords: Treatment Diabetic ulcers, ulcers Identification, Expert System.

Results of proximal gastric vagotomy over 1–5 years in a district general hospital

One hundred and seventy-three underwent proximal gastric vagotomy for duodenal ulceration over a 6-year period. One hundred and fifteen of these have been followed up for 1-5 years. The operative mortality was nil and the result was satisfactory in 91 per cent. The incidence of side effects was small, notably that of dumping being 2.4 per cent and of diarrhoea, 3.6 per cent. Incidence of postoperative heartburn was reduced from 13 per cent to 4 per cent by the introduction of hepatic interposition. The incidence of recurrent ulceration was 5.1 per cent after an average interval of 2 years and that of new gastric ulceration 2.6 per cent after an average of 4 years. There were no recurrent ulcers in those who had peroperative Burge tests, although secretory studies showed no difference between those tested and those not tested. Most recurrences occurred in the earliest cases operated on before Burge testing was introduced and when only 2 cm of the lower oesophagus were exposed.

Early results of surgery in patients considered cimetidine failures.

Fifty-two consecutive unselected duodenal ulcer patients (Group I), who had failed to respond to cimetidine and who subsequently underwent elective vagotomy and drainage, were studied. All patients were symptomatic on cimetidine in full recommended dosage. This group has been compared with another group of 634 duodenal ulcer patients (Group 2) undergoing elective vagotomy and drainage in the 'pre-cimetidine era'. The groups were similar pre-operatively with regard to age, sex, length of history and maximal acid output. Completeness of vagotomy and amount of acid reduction were similar in the two groups. The incidence of recurrent ulceration was 5 per cent in Group I and 5.7 per cent in Group 2. Although, of necessity, follow-up is shorter in the cimetidine failures (mean 2.3 years), there is nothing to suggest that failure to respond to cimetidine precludes a satisfactory surgical result.

Late results of proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage for duodenal ulcer: 5--9-year follow-up.

From 1970 to 1974 proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage was performed in 158 patients for duodenal ulcer. One patient died, giving an operative mortality of 0.6 per cent. Nine unrelated deaths occurred during the period of survey and 5 other patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 143 patients were followed-up for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 9 years. The most frequent symptoms were epigastric fullness and intolerance to milk. Early dumping, detected in 6.7 per cent of the patients, was always mild. Diarrhoea, also very slight and often only related to the ingestion of milk, was seen in 9.6 per cent. Recurrent duodenal ulcer was proved in 7.7 per cent and strongly suspected in 0.7 per cent and the presence of a new gastric ulcer was also proved in 1.4 per cent of patients, making a total incidence of recurrence of 9.8 per cent. Approximately 89 per cent of the patients were classed as having a satisfactory result and 11 per cent were classed as unsatisfactory. Proximal gastric vagotomy is clearly effective in reducing the side effects of gastric surgery, while the incidence of recurrent ulceration in the long term is similar to the incidence of recurrence after truncal or selective vagotomy with a drainage procedure. For these reasons, consideration should be given to the wider use of proximal gastric vagotomy in the elective surgical treatment of duodenal ulcer.

A prospective randomized trial of vagotomy in chronic duodenal ulceration

In a prospective, randomized trial, 76 patients with duodenal ulceration treated by truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty were compared with 77 patients who underwent highly selective vagotomy. A total of 149 patients was followed up for from 1 to 4 years, the average follow-up period being 2.6 years. There was no operative mortality and no significant difference in postoperative morbidity between the two groups. The incidence of recurrent ulceration was greater after highly selective vagotomy, but this difference was not statistically significant. The clinical results were comparable in each group, and although the incidence of diarrhoea and dumping was greater after vagotomy and pyloroplasty, this difference was not statistically significant.

Simple closure of perforated duodenal ulcer: A prospective evaluation of a conservative management policy

One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients admitted with a perforated duodenal ulcer over a 5-year period (1978-82) and treated by simple closure have been followed prospectively over a median period of 43 months. Patients were divided into two categories according to their previous history of dyspepsia; group 1 (66 patients) with a chronic history of more than 3 months and group 2 (47 patients) where there was no history of dyspepsia or a history of less than 3 months duration. The follow-up periods were similar (group 1, 44 months; group 2, 43 months). The overall recurrence rate was 42 per cent and to date only 14 per cent of the total group of 113 patients have required a definitive operation. The incidence of ulcer recurrence was higher in group 1 than in group 2 in terms of total recurrence (group 1, 50 per cent; group 2, 32 per cent) and patients requiring further surgery (group 1, n = 14, 21 per cent; group 2, n = 7, 15 per cent). Five of these 21 patients required an emergency procedure for haemorrhage or reperforation (group 1, n = 2; group 2, n = 3). There were no significant differences between the 5-year predictive recurrence rate or the requirement for definitive surgery between the groups. Five of the 27 patients currently on medical treatment have required maintenance treatment while the remaining patients receive active treatment for a mean of 20 per cent of the time since they developed recurrent ulceration. These results support continuation of our 'wait and see' policy following simple closure of perforated duodenal ulcer, even in patients with a history of chronic dyspepsia.

Anterior lesser curve seromyotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy versus truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer

In a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial, anterior lesser curve seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy (AMPT, n = 77) has been compared with truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (TVP, n = 69) in 146 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer with a mean duration of symptoms of 7 years. The mean follow-up time was 4.5 years with a range of 2-7 years. One elderly patient died from a myocardial infarction in the TVP group. Acid secretory inhibition in response to insulin and pentagastrin stimuli was equal in both groups, indicating a similar degree of vagal denervation. Recurrent ulcers were more common after AMPT (five) than TVP (two) (P = 0.29, n.s.). Dumping and diarrhoea were significantly commoner (P less than 0.001) after TVP, with 31 instances as opposed to eight with AMPT. The mean operating time was increased by 6 min when AMPT was performed rather than TVP. The results of this study have shown that AMPT is associated with a lower incidence of dumping and diarrhoea and achieves better overall Visick grading. However, continued monitoring is required to assess the long-term incidence of recurrent ulceration after this procedure.

Efecto de la erradicación de Helicobacter pylori sobre la recurrencia de la úlcera gástrica a lo largo de 12 meses

To study the influence of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the incidence of ulcer recurrence during 12 months of follow-up in gastric ulcer patients. Seventy-three patients with gastric ulcer were prospectively studied. At endoscopy two biopsies from both antrum and body for haematoxylin-eosin staining and one for rapid urease test were obtained. Likewise, serology and 13C-urea breath test were carried out. Fifty-six H. pylori infected patients were monitored after giving an eradication therapy with omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin. A first control endoscopy was performed immediately after completing treatment to confirm ulcer healing. A second control endoscopy (with histologic study) and a breath test were performed one month after completing therapy (eradication was defined as the absence of H. pylori by both methods). Finally, an endoscopy was repeated at 6 and 12 months to study ulcer recurrences. Mean age was 54 +/- 13 years (69% males). Cumulative ulcer recurrence rate for 12 months, respectively for patients with eradication success and failure, was 2.3% (95% CI, 0-12%) and 70% (34-93%) (chi 2: 23.9; p < 0.0001). Comparison between Kaplan-Meier curves for ulcer recurrence depending on H. pylori eradication showed significant differences (log-rank test; chi 2: 33.8; p < 0.0001). A patient successfully treated underwent ulcer recurrence while receiving treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, without recurrence of the infection. H. pylori eradication is associated with a dramatic reduction on the recurrence of gastric ulcer, with a cumulative recurrence rate during 12 months of only 2.3%, which suggests that definitive cure of gastric ulcer disease is possible by means of microorganism eradication.

The role of Helicobacter pylori in perforated duodenal ulcer: A prospective randomized treatment traal

BACKGROUND: Immediate definitive acid-reduction surgery has been advocated for patients with duodenal ulcer perforation because of the high incidence of ulcer recurrence. Whether H. pylori plays any role in the strong ulcer diathesis of these patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine if H. pylori eradication prevented ulcer relapse in patients with ulcer perforation. METHOD: One hundred thirty patients with perforated duodenal ulcer had H. pylori status determined by rapid urease test, culture, and histology on antral biopsies obtained via intra-operative gastroscopy. With informed consent, ninety-one H. pylori-infected patients undergoing omental patch repair were randomized to receive either a 4-week course of Omeprazole (20mg per day) plus triple therapy (Bismuth 120mg, tetracycline 500mg, and metronidazole q.i.d, for 1 week) or Omeprazole alone. H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing were determined by follow-up endoscopy at 8-week, 16week (if unhealed on 8th week), and 1-year after the operation. Outcomes of patients were compared by intention to treat analysis using Chi square or Fisher Exact test when appropriate.

A 50-year perspective upon selective gastric vagotomy

The occurrence of postvagotomy complications was initially considered an unavoidable but acceptable consequence of duodenal ulcer surgery. Following the description of "selective" vagotomy procedures, however, it became apparent that effective ulcer surgery might be accomplished without unpleasant sequellae. In 1957 the experimental basis for "highly" selective vagotomy (HSV), which preserved antral innervation, was reported. HSV was performed in several European centers between 1960 and 1968, and was widely accepted there. Surgeons in the United States, in contrast, were largely reluctant to use HSV, an operation which had an excessive ulcer recurrence rate compared to vagotomy-antrectomy. More recently, HSV is recognized as a successful operation, due to more complete division of preganglionic gastric vagal nerves ("extended" HSV) and the liberal use of pyloric reconstruction in patients with juxtapyloric ulcers. HSV is performed with minimal morbidity, with an incidence of recurrent ulcer which is less than 5%. Complications such as dumping, diarrhea, and gastric atony are quite rare. HSV is an ideal procedure for most patients with duodenal ulcer. Because most operations for ulcer are performed for urgent or life-threatening problems, the most common operation performed in the United States today is truncal vagotomy combined with pyloroplasty or gastric resection. Earlier operation for chronic ulcer has many potential advantages.

Efficacy of continuous therapy for peptic ulcer in controlled clinical trials.

Long-term studies have confirmed unequivocally the clinical efficacy of continuous therapy with H2-receptor antagonists in reducing the incidence of ulcer recurrence. However, studies have also reported varying relapse rates as a result of differences in study design, particularly the frequency of endoscopy and hence the detection of asymptomatic ulcer relapse. Risk factors for ulcer relapse include smoking, stress, previous history of frequent ulcer relapses, duration of disease for more than 10 years and concomitant administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In the prevention of relapse with H2-receptor antagonists, choice of agents also may influence the rate of relapse. A meta-analysis of data from direct comparative trials indicates that recurrence rates of duodenal ulcer are significantly lower after one year of treatment with ranitidine (150 mg nocte) than with cimetidine (400 mg nocte). It has been claimed that patients with peptic ulcer disease can be successfully managed by intermittent courses of treatment with H2-receptor antagonists which are taken in response to the development of symptoms. However, high relapse rates (64-100%) have been reported during the first year of follow-up of patients who were receiving intermittent treatment with H2-receptor antagonists. High complication rates (haemorrhage 11.4%, perforation 1.2%) have also been reported over a seven-year follow-up, while continuous treatment with H2-receptor antagonists significantly decreases the risk of haemorrhage in the event of ulcer recurrence.

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.

Proximal Gastric Vagotomy and Duodenoplasty for Stenotic Duodenal Ulcers – Long-Term Results

Between 1975 and 1984, 39 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) and stenosis causing gastric outlet obstruction were operated on with a proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) and a duodenoplasty. This technique consists of a longitudinal incision made at the site of the duodenal narrowing, followed by a transverse suture. It enlarges only the narrowed duodenum but leaves the important pyloric ring intact. The mean observation time was 70 months (extremes: 18 months and 11 years). There was no operative mortality. The clinical results were excellent or good in 95 % of the patients (Visick I and II). After the operation no patient had symptoms of gastric retention, dumping or diarrhea. No recurrent stenosis has occurred. Only 1 patient (2.5%) developed a recurrent ulcer 5 years after the operation. It is concluded that duodenoplasty is a good operation in patients with stenotic DU. It corrects the narrowing and preserves the pyloric function. The combination of PGV and duodenoplasty in stenotic DU yields an incidence of ulcer recurrence comparable to that observed in our hands after PGV alone for nonstenotic DU (5/146 – 3.5%). It is assumed that the systematic control and treatment by duodenoplasty of every partial duodenal stenosis may have contributed to the low incidence of ulcer recurrence after PGV (6/185 – 3.2%) in our series by eliminating a possible residual stasis. This assumption remains to be proven.

Parietal cell vagotomy as an emergency procedure for bleeding peptic ulcer.

Twenty-three selected patients presenting with massive bleeding from peptic ulcers underwent emergency parietal cell vagotomy (PCV). Nineteen patients had a duodenal ulcer, two a prepyloric ulcer, and one a gastric ulcer. The patients were studied retrospectively with regard to postoperative mortality and morbidity, early rebleeding, and recurrent ulceration. Two patients (9%) died after operation, one of rebleeding. No others suffered rebleeding. One further patient had major respiratory complications and 14 others developed minor complications. The remaining 21 patients were followed for between 2 and 72 months. Two patients (10%) developed recurrent ulcers. The authors conclude that parietal cell vagotomy may be used as an emergency operation for bleeding peptic ulcer in selected cases with an acceptably low mortality, rebleeding rate, and incidence of recurrent ulceration.

Endoscopic Congo red test during proximal gastric vagotomy

Although proximal gastric vagotomy is widely performed as an elective treatment for duodenal ulcer, the incidence of recurrent ulcer is troublesome. There are several theories to explain recurrent ulcers, and important technical steps should be considered when performing proximal gastric vagotomy. The use of an intraoperative test may allow more accurate performance of the operation and more complete vagotomy of the parietal cell mass. This report describes the use of the endoscopic Congo red test in patients during proximal gastric vagotomy. The test allows rapid and accurate mapping of areas of the stomach with intact vagus and secretory nerves after operative vagotomy, and can be repeated several times if necessary to verify completion of the vagotomy. The use of universally available equipment and the potential for intraoperative and postoperative use are other attractive features of the test. Use of the endoscopic Congo red test provides physiologic evidence that vagus secretory nerve fibers traverse the right and left gastroepiploic nerves, leading us to believe that the gastroepiploic nerves should be routinely divided during proximal gastric vagotomy. In patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer requiring reoperation, the endoscopic Congo red test allows preoperative demonstration of the site of the intact vagal nerve trunks. The endoscopic Congo red test deserves further investigation and wider application during operations for chronic duodenal ulcer.

Morphologic and functional evidence of reinnervation of the gastric parietal cell mass after parietal cell vagotomy

The incidence of recurrent ulceration after parietal cell vagotomy varies greatly and the cause is largely unknown. Whether the vagus nerve can regenerate or reinnervate the gastric parietal cell mass after parietal cell vagotomy was investigated. Careful microscopic dissection of the neurovascular bundle in 130 rats allowed the vagus nerve to be divided to the gastric body with preservation of the antropyloric nerve and gastric vasculature. Gastric secretory tests were performed under basal and stimulated conditions after secretagogue and insulin hypoglycemia stimulation. Rats were killed weekly and the vagal nerve distribution examined by electron microscopy. Stimulated gastric acid output decreased from 164 to 26 μmol/hour immediately after operation (p < 0.001). One week after parietal cell vagotomy the nerves were swollen with fibroblast infiltration and collagen around axon groups showed degeneration. By the third week after parietal cell vagotomy, the axons were more densely packed with neurofilaments and acid output had increased to 183 μmol/hour. In the fourth and fifth weeks, the enlarged Schwann cell forum processes had more axons and acid output increased to 262 μmol/hour. By the seventh week, both large and small axons were identified and the acid output was 93 percent higher than the preoperative level (p < 0.001). The sequential neuropathologic changes of vagus nerve degeneration, regeneration and functional reinnervation of the gastric parietal cell mass after parietal cell vagotomy are shown by this study. If this occurs in man, it may be an important cause of recurrent peptic ulceration after parietal cell vagotomy.