Parietal cell vagotomy and selective vagotomy plus antrectomy in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. A follow-up of 10 years.

Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with duodenal ulcer were subjected to vagotomy. According to the clinical manifestations and the results of gastric acid secretion test, parietal cell vagotomy was done in 100 patients and selective vagotomy plus antrectomy in 138 patients. Follow-up after operation for 10 years showed that 96% and 97% of patients belonged to Visick Grade I and II respectively. The recurrence rate for parietal cell vagotomy was 1.96%, but no recurrence was seen in the group of selective vagotomy plus antrectomy. Long-term side-effects were rarely found in the patients. They had good nutritional states. The follow-up data showed that the recurrence rate could be greatly reduced if the modality of vagotomy was selected according to the type of gastric acid secretion test. The importance of surgeons experience and careful manipulation was emphasized.