Physiologic consequences of vagotomy and gastric resection.

Operations for peptic ulcer have evolved to minimize physiologic disturbance while ulcer recurrence is prevented. Nevertheless, all operations disturb gastrointestinal motility to some extent, and these changes correlate with postoperative side effects. In particular, the pattern of gastric emptying is altered, but small bowel emptying is largely preserved. Alterations in biliary motility increase the risk of gallstone formation after most, but not all, ulcer operations.