Prospective randomized multicentre trial of proximal gastric vagotomy or truncal vagotomy and antrectomy for chronic duodenal ulcer: results after 5-7 years.

In a prospective, randomized study 145 patients with duodenal ulcer have been followed 5-7 years after proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) or truncal vagotomy with antrectomy (TVA). Postoperative complications were significantly higher after TVA (P less than 0.0005). There was one death due to anastomotic leakage after TVA. The recurrence rate was significantly higher after PGV (9.9 per cent). Postoperative symptoms were less after PGV (P less than 0.01). Due to the recurrence rate after PGV there was no overall significant difference in the Visick grading, although perfect results (Visick I) were seen significantly more often (P less than 0.01). It is concluded that better results follow PGV.