Selective proximal vagotomy without drainage in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. The results after a standardization of the surgical technique. A five-year follow-up.

Selective proximal vagotomy without polyoroplasty has been shown to be a difficult operation to perform and some investigator have got a rather high frequency of recurrencies and operative complications. In an attempt to reduce the surgical failures a standardization of the operation has been undertaken. In the present material the long term results of a material operated upon with stardardized technique has been estimated. The operation resulted in a high reduction of the ability to secret acid. 90% of the patients had almost no side effects of the operation and 4.4% got a relapse. The relapses developed in patients with a negative postoperative insulin test. The prognostic value of the insulin test seems therefore doubtful.