Graded gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer -- a five-year prospective study.

One hundred and twelve consecutive patients selected for surgical treatment for duodenal ulcer disease were treated by a graded gastrectomy according to the Moynihan modification of the Billroth II partial gastrectomy. A large partial gastrectomy (R) (2/3-3/4 gastrectomy) was done in patients who after maximal stimulation with histamine showed a high acid output (MAO greater than 30 mEa/hr), and a small resection (r) (1/3-1/2 gastrectomy) in low secretors (MAO less than 30 mEq/hr). The material was prospectively controlled by admission to hospital at 3 months, 1 year and 5 years postoperatively. The preoperative values of MAO found in R and r were 42.8 and 21.5 mEq/hr (p less than 0.001), respectively. The postoperative MAO values at the 3-month control were 4.5 and 3.0 mEq/hr by R and r, respectively, which shows that the grading of resection had been successful. Atrophic gastritis increased in frequency from 4% at the time of operation to 72% at the 1-year control...