[Sympathectomy of the stomach: an effective preventive measure in stress-induced gastric mucosa lesions in swine].

15 mini-pigs were bled to a mean aortic blood-pressure of 40 mm Hg, which was sustained for 3 hours. 2 groups were studied: Control-Group: Shock alone without splanchnicectomy (n = 8); Test-Group: Shock after splanchnicectomy 14 days previously (n = 7). In all animals a stimulated gastric secretion test was performed 3 days before and 8 days after this operation. All animals of the control-group showed severe gastric mucosal lesions after shock. Piglets with splanchnicectomy (test-group), conversely, developed no (5 animals) or only minor changes (2 animals). The efficiency of splanchnicectomy was proved by a stimulated gastric secretion test: Basal acid output did not change after operation, peak acid output however increased significantly. This study in piglets shows, that splanchnicectomy of the stomach prevents gastric stress-lesions almost completely.