Polya gastrectomy for recurrent ulceration following vagotomy.

Thirty-seven patients with recurrent ulceration after vagotomy were treated by Polya gastrectomy and have been followed up for a minimum of 3 years (median 5 years). The diagnosis of recurrent ulcer was made by endoscopy or at operation. Nine patients were initially treated with cimetidine and either failed to respond or relapsed on maintenance dosage. There were 2 operative deaths and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. The results of Polya gastrectomy were Visick grade I: 61 per cent, Visick grade II: 15 per cent, Visick grade III: 9 per cent and Visick grade IV: 15 per cent, Two patients had further recurrent ulceration.