Duodenal ulcer; results of treatment with subdiaphragmatic vagus resection and gastroenterostomy; interim report.

The physiological basis for the use of vagotomy in the treatment of duodenal ulcer rests on two findings: (1) patients with duodenal ulcer have increased nocturnal gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid and (2) complete vagotomy abolishes the increased secretion. 11 Excellent clinical results from the use of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy with gastroenterostomy in duodenal ulcer have been reported by Dragstedt, Crile, and others. 2 An unpublished report of a nation-wide survey conducted by the vagotomy committee of the American Gastroenterological Association in 1950 cited excellent results from the operation in nearly 98% of the patients. Other reports have indicated an unsatisfactory experience with the operation, and the 1951 report of the committee mentioned above was less impressive than that of the preceding year, although there were still about 94% of patients satisfied with the results of the operation. 3 Because of these conflicting views, further studies on the long-term results of