Results of a controlled randomized trial of proximal gastric vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty.

The 1--5 year results of a prospective randomized trial of proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) with and without pyloroplasty in 64 men operated upon electively for chronic duodenal ulcer are reported. The effects of the operation on gastric secretion, as tested at 6 months with pentagastrin and isulin, were the same in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the clinical results between the two groups. The authors conclude that the addition of pyloroplasty makes little, if any, difference to the results of PGV. Pyloroplasty is thus better omitted as it adds nothing of value and may increase the risk of the procedure.