Electrical, contractile, and radiographic studies of the stomach after proximal gastric vagotomy.

The effects of proximal gastric vagotomy on the gastric electrical and contractile activities and on gastric emptying of solid food were studied in dogs. Proximal gastric vagotomy produced only minimal alteration of the electrical activity and did not significantly alter the response of the electrical and contractile activities to vagal stimulation (insulin) and local stimulation (food). Barium meal studies showed no delay in gastric emptying time after proximal gastric vagotomy but significant delay after truncal vagotomy. The findings support the clinical impression that gastric motility and empyting (solid) remain relatively normal after proximal gastric vagotomy.