Role of highly selective vagotomy and duodenoplasty in the treatment of postbulbar duodenal obstruction

The indications for highly selective vagotomy have expanded in recent years, with the technique being applied to selected cases of perforation and bleeding. Its use in obstruction is controversial, but two options are available for managing the stenotic pylorus or duodenum: dilatation or duodenoplasty. The latter choice requires that the stenosis be located in the postbulbar area. Since 1981, we have managed 15 patients with postbulbar stenosis by means of highly selective vagotomy and duodenoplasty. All patients had a previous history of ulcer disease, and vomiting was a consistent symptom. All patients were referred for surgery, 10 by a gastroenterologist. There was no operative mortality or procedure-related morbidity. Two patients have been lost to follow-up. Both were classified as Visick I and had normal endoscopic results at their last visit. The remaining 13 patients have all been followed very recently. Twelve patients (92%) are currently classified as Visick I or II. One patient (Visick IV), who was essentially asymptomatic, was found to have a recurrent ulcer on endoscopy. Endoscopic (11 patients) or radiographic (1 patient) patency of the duodenoplasty has been demonstrated in 12 patients. Highly selective vagotomy and duodenoplasty should be a surgical consideration when the pathologic anatomy of the duodenum lends itself to that choice.     

Highly selective vagotomy in duodenal ulceration and its complications. A 12-year review.

Highly selective vagotomy (HSV) was performed in 509 patients over 12 years for the surgical management of duodenal ulceration; 103 HSVs were carried out during the treatment of complications. The overall rate of ulcer recurrence was 7%, ranging from 10% in the first 4 years to 4% in the 6 years between 1975 and 1980. Highly selective vagotomy was performed in addition to closure of a perforated ulcer in 16 patients, with no recurrent ulcers or re-perforations. After the control of their bleeding duodenal ulcers, 25 patients had HSV with no rebleeding, although two patients had recurrent ulceration. Highly selective vagotomy was performed in 62 patients with stenosis in addition to dilatation (44) or duodenoplasty (18). There was a high incidence of recurrent ulceration (7) and stenosis (9) with digital dilatation while duodenoplasty gave better results with one recurrent stenosis and no recurrent ulceration. The authors conclude that HSV is justified by its late results as a definitive operation in chronic duodenal ulceration that allows preservation of the pylorus during surgery for complications.     

Six-year results of a prospective, randomized trial of selective proximal vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty in the treatment of duodenal, pyloric, and prepyloric ulcers.

In a consecutive series of patients with uncomplicated prepyloric, pyloric, or duodenal ulcer, 39 patients were randomly allocated to selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, and 40 patients to selective proximal vagotomy alone with no operative mortality. Before surgery, all patients had undergone H2-receptor antagonist treatment. No patient was lost for follow-up. At an average follow-up of 6 years, recurrent ulcer was recorded in 15% and 20%, respectively, after selective proximal vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty. Three of 14 recurrent ulcers were asymptomatic. Epigastric pain with or without ulcer was significantly less common after selective proximal vagotomy with (13%) than without pyloroplasty (40%). Mild diarrhea or mild dumping was recorded in a few patients. The overall results were very good or good (Visick I or II) in 77% and 55% (significant difference) after vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty, respectively, and in 82% and 58%, if asymptomatic ulcers were graded as Visick I or II results. Of the 27 patients with Visick III or IV results, three patients needed no treatment (asymptomatic ulcers), and 10 patients had no symptoms during medical treatment. Two patients with vagotomy and pyloroplasty and nine with vagotomy alone were reoperated. There were no deaths, and the results were graded as Visick I or II in 10 patients and as Visick III in one patient. The authors conclude that selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty is superior to vagotomy alone for the treatment of prepyloric-pyloric and duodenal ulcer. Recurrent ulcer after vagotomy has a benign course and responds well to ranitidine treatment.     

Proximal gastric vagotomy. Follow-up of 109 patients for 6-13 years

From January 1973 through December 1979, 131 patients underwent proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) for duodenal ulcer. There were 78 men and 53 women, whose age ranged from 19 to 73 years, with a mean age of 45 years. One hospital death occurred as a result of pulmonary embolism (0.7% mortality). There were 12 late deaths unrelated to ulcer disease, and each of the 12 patients was graded Visick I or II prior to death. Nine patients were lost to follow-up. This report is an analysis of the remaining 109 patients followed from 6 to 13 years. One hundred two patients (93.5%) underwent PGV for intractability. Seven patients (6.5%) who underwent PGV in selective circumstances for either acute perforation (3 patients), bleeding (1 patient), and moderate outlet obstruction (3 patients) are included. Follow-up results reveal that 52 patients (47%) are graded Visick I, 40 patients (36%) Visick II, five patients (5%) Visick III, and 12 patients (12%) Visick IV. Mild diarrhea occurred in 2.8% and mild dumping in 1.9%, and no reflux gastritis or esophagitis was noted. Recurrent ulceration took place in 10 patients, and seven subsequently required reoperation. Two additional patients had the antral pump mechanism denervated and later required antrectomy. PGV has yielded satisfactory results over a 6-13 year follow-up when operation was done for intractability. The low incidence of unpleasant long-term side effects is an appealing feature of the operation. A recurrent ulcer rate of 9.2% (10 patients) has, however, been of major concern. Those with a prime interest in gastric surgery are urged to continue the use of PGV in cases of intractability. Another 10 years of clinical investigative work will no doubt be necessary to determine the ultimate rate of recurrent ulceration.     

Parietal cell vagotomy and dilatation for peptic duodenal stricture.

Gastric outlet obstruction due to peptic duodenal stricture (pyloric stenosis) was treated with parietal cell vagotomy and dilatation of the stricture in 32 patients. Follow-up is in the range of 5 years in 37.4% of the patients, while 6 to 10 years follow-up is available in 62.4% of the patients. At their last follow-up, 74.9% of the patients were in either Visick 1 or 2 clinical status. Recurrence rates have been 3.1% at 1 year, 9.3% at 5 years, and 21.8% after 6 to 10 years follow-up. There has been only one instance (3.1%) of restenosis. Two patients required reoperation because of recurrence and one of them died.     

Experience with vagotomy--antrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy in surgical treatment of duodenal, gastric, and stomal ulcers.

Gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I) is our reconstruction of choice following gastric resection for gastroduodenal ulcer. Dissatisfaction with a Billroth II anastomosis has led us in recent years to employ a Roux-en-Y diversion in selected cases, particularly those in which the pathologic state of the pyloroduodenal canal would render a Billroth I anastomosis unsafe. During the past 7 years, truncal vagotomy-antrectomy and Roux-en-Y (VARY) has been carried out in 50 selected patients: duodenal ulcer (DU) 13 patients, gastric ulcer (GU) 11 patients, and stomal ulcer (SU) 26 patients. Fourteen patients (28%) developed postoperative complications, of which nine (18%) were of major degree and five (10%) of a lesser degree. No hospital death occurred among the 50 patients. Five patients (10%) developed postoperative delayed gastric emptying and two of the five required revision of the Roux. Forty-five patients had no clinical problems with delayed emptying. Overall results showed a Visick grading of I in 72%, Visick II in 24%, and Visick III in 4%. Further analysis revealed that of the 13 patients with DU who had VARY, 62% were Visick I, 30% Visick II, and 8% Visick III. The 11 GU patients with VARY were graded Visick I 73% and Visick II 27%. Of 26 patients with SU who underwent VARY, 77% were Visick I, 19% Visick II, and 4% Visick III. Mild to moderate dumping took place in 8% of the 50 patients, mild diarrhea 10%, weight loss 10%, and no patient experienced alkaline reflux gastritis. Long-range postoperative gastric emptying studies among nine patients using a radionuclide revealed varying patterns of emptying. Overall clinical results have been satisfactory and we are continuing to use VARY in selected cases, particularly those in which a Billroth I reconstruction appears contraindicated.     

Twenty years after parietal cell vagotomy or selective vagotomy antrectomy for treatment of duodenal ulcer. Final report.

OBJECTIVE: This study was a prospective, randomized evaluation of parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) and selective vagotomy-antrectomy (SV-A) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. BACKGROUND DATA: Operative treatment of duodenal ulcer is associated with mortality and mechanical and metabolic morbidity. At the time that surgeons appear to have succeeded in developing operations with low morbidity and mortality, the number of patients requiring elective operation has decreased partly because of the simultaneous, dramatic improvement in medical therapy. Nevertheless, surgical therapy still is important, especially in certain socioeconomic environments. METHODS: After a pilot study of PCV, 200 patients with duodenal ulcers were randomized to PCV or SV-A. One surgeon was responsible for the operations and follow-up studies. An attempt was made to evaluate all patients annually in the hospital. Gastric analyses were performed on each visit, for which the patient gave his/her consent. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. The recurrence rate-by-life table analysis was less (p < 0.003) after SV-A than PCV. Dumping was greater (p < 0.001), and there was no difference in the frequency of diarrhea after SV-A compared with PCV. The percentage of patients with grades Visick I or Visick II was not different for the two operations, but more patients were graded Visick I after PCV than after SV-A. CONCLUSIONS: Selective vagotomy-antrectomy and parietal cell vagotomy are effective and safe operations, when used appropriately. Selective vagotomy-antrectomy is preferable for patients with pyloric and prepyloric ulcers and pyloric obstruction. Parietal cell vagotomy is the authors' choice for duodenal ulcer patients because of the occasional patient who becomes disabled by SV-A.     

Comparison of highly selective vagotomy with truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty: results at 8-15 years

In 1983 we reported the early results (mean 5 years) of a prospective randomized comparison of highly selective vagotomy (HSV) with truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (TVP) where all 137 operations were performed by the same surgeon. HSV was significantly better than TVP in terms of Visick grading and side-effects. The same patients were assessed at a mean of 12 years (range 8-15 years) after operation. There was no difference on assessment using Visick grading between TVP (59 patients) and HSV (57 patients) (grades I and II, 75 per cent in each case). However, 20 per cent of TVP patients (but none of the HSV patients) had undergone reoperation in the intervening period. The endoscopically proven recurrence rate was 7 per cent after TVP and 5 per cent after HSV. This long-term follow-up supports the optimism that HSV is a better operation than TVP in the elective treatment of duodenal ulcer.     

逆行游离高选择性胃迷走神经切断术治疗十二指肠溃疡

目的：探讨逆行游离高选择性胃迷走神经切断术治疗十二指肠溃疡的可行性和有效性,评估该术式的远期效果,为临床治疗提出新思路。方法：应用逆行游离高选择性胃迷走神经切断术治疗十二指肠溃疡主其工发穿孔、出血和狭窄患者70例,其溃疡穿孔61例,出血6例,狭窄3。结果：65例患者获得访,总的溃复发率为7.69%,再出血率为0。随访30-120个月,属改良VisickⅠ级56例占86.2%,Ⅱ级4例占6.1%,Ⅲ级2例占3.0%,Ⅳ级3例占4.6%,Ⅰ、Ⅱ级共占92.3%。结论：逆行游离高选择性胃迷走神经切断术治疗十二指肠溃疡及其并发症,具有缩短手术时间、简化手术操作、患者远期预后好等优点,可作为治疗十二指肠溃疡合并症的一种有效的方法。     

选择性迷走神经切断术加胃窦切除术治疗十二指肠溃疡远期疗效观察

目的：研究选择性迷走神经切断加胃窦切除术（SV＋A）治疗十二指肠溃疡远期疗效。方法：1977年11月－2001年11月采用SV＋A治疗193例十二指肠溃疡患者,其中顽固性溃疡28例,溃疡伴出血112例,溃疡伴幽门梗阻41例,胃十二指肠复合性溃疡12例。结果：SV＋A术后及术后随访基础胃酸分泌（BAO）、胰岛素刺激后胃酸分泌（IMAO）、五肽胃泌素刺激后胃酸分泌（PMAO）和血清胃泌素显著下降,壁细胞呈现分泌抑制的特征;术后1－10年和11－24年的随访,患者属于Visick I、Ⅱ级分别占95．60％和96．61％,Ⅲ级分别占（4．40％）和（3．39％）,无溃疡复发。结论：SV＋A降酸显著而持久,无溃疡复发。该术式是手术治疗十二指肠溃疡特别是溃疡并发症的有效方法。     

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??Long-term follow-up of lesser gastric curve and fundus seromyotomy for the treatment of duodenal ulcer and its complication: an analysis of 55 cases JIANG Xiao-chun*??XU Rui-yun. *Department of Surgery, the 113th Hospital of PLA, Ningbo 315040,China Corresponding author: JIANG Xiao-chun??E-mail: jiangxc1963@yahoo.cn Abstract Objective To research the long-term curative effects of lesser gastric curve and fundus seromyotomy (LGCFS) for the treatment of duodenal ulcer and its complications. Methods Fifty-five cases of duodenal ulcer performed LGCFS from 1983 to 1991 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of SUN Yat-sen University were followed up by means of letters, telephone and outpatient reexamine. The curative effects were classified by the Visick scale. Results Forty-seven cases were followed up.The Visick classification results were: (1) Twenty-five (78.1%), 2(6.3%), 3(9.4%) and 2(6.3%) cases being classified as Visick I,II,III,IV respectively among 32 cases without any complication.(2) Five (33.3%), 2(13.3%), 2(13.3%) and 6(40.0%) cases being classified as Visick I,II,III,IV respectively among 15 cases with complications. (3) Thirty (63.8%), 4 (8.5%), 5 (10.6% ) and 8 (17.0% ) cases were classified as Visick I,II,III,IV respectively among 47 cases. Conclusion LGCFS is simple and has few complications.The long term curative effect is good for duodenal ulcer without any complication.But it is bad for duodenal ulcer with complications,especially for duodenal ulcer with pyloric obstruction because of the high recurrent rate of pyloristenosis after LGCFS plus pylorodiosis.     

保留幽门的胃窦黏膜切除加高选择性迷走神经切断术后临床疗效观察

目的观察保留幽门的胃窦黏膜切除加高选择性迷走神经切断术(高选迷切术)治疗十二指肠溃疡的疗效。方法对实施该术式的48例患者术后3～6个月及8～12年临床随访结果进行分析总结。结果全组无死亡病例。术后3～6个月及8～12年VisickⅠ～Ⅱ级分别为93.8％和95.3％。术后胃酸及胃窦黏膜幽门螺杆菌感染率与术前比较明显降低(P＜0.05),术后胃液胆酸及血清胃泌素无明显改变,X线钡餐及胃镜检查未发现溃疡复发。结论保留幽门的胃窦黏膜切除加高选迷切术不仅能保留胃窦、幽门功能,使胃内环境保护相对稳定,而且能有效、持久地降低胃酸分泌,减少溃疡复发和术后并发症的发生,是治疗十二指肠溃疡较理想的术式。     

Laparoscopic modified taylor procedure in the treatment of duodenal ulcer: technique and outcome after 5-year follow-up

BACKGROUND: Recently, gastric stapling with posterior truncal vagotomy has been performed by laparoscopic surgery, as an alternative to highly selective vagotomy (HSV) and the Taylor procedure for the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer. AIM: To investigate, after a mean 5-year follow-up, the effect of the stapling-modified laparoscopic Taylor procedure, on gastric secretion, emptying and reflux as well as clinical parameters and recurrence rates in patients treated for duodenal ulcer. METHODS: 16 patients, aged 38-66 years, were treated from January 1993 to January 1996 (median 60.5 months), by the laparoscopic stapling-modified Taylor procedure, using the Endo-GIA stapler device. Assessment of the results of gastric acid secretion, solid and liquid gastric emptying, enterogastric reflux, endoscopic findings and clinical parameters, using the Visick grading, was performed. RESULTS: Endoscopy found healing ulcer in 15 patients. One patient showed signs of chronic ulcerative disease without gastritis or pyloric stenosis indicative of progressive ulcerative diathesis and was classified as Visick III. 14 patients were classified as Visick I and 1 as II. The enterogastric reflux index ranged from 0 to 26%, basal and peak acid output were 1.4 +/- 0.6 and 11.7 +/- 6.1 mmol H(+)/h, respectively. The half-emptying times of the solid and liquid meal were 82 +/- 7 and 16 +/- 6 min, respectively. These results are likely to be similar to those obtained from series of patients who underwent HSV or Taylor procedure and are closed to those from healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic modified Taylor procedure, using the Endo-GIA stapler device allows a more rapid, technically easier and radical performance of the operation with excellent long- term results and should be included in the armamentarium of the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer.     

Characteristics of duodenoplasty in duodenal ulcers of various localization

Experience and methods of duodenoplasty in duodenal ulcers and pyloric stenosis are presented. Pylorus-saving duodenoplasty in combination with selective proximal vagotomy (SPV) can be performed in the majority of patients with duodenal ulcers. Pyloric sphincter is destroyed by ulcer rarely (7.2%). Removal of ulcerous substrate reduces significantly per cent of postoperative complications, including recurrence of ulcer. Long-term results (from 1 to 20 years) of pylorus-saving duodenoplasty with SPV in 259 patients with duodenal ulcer were analyzed. Low per cent of complications and lethal outcomes have been demonstrated.     

Surgical treatment of patients with perforated peptic ulcers

Results of surgical treatment of 782 patients with perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers are analyzed. Gastric ulcers of I type were diagnosed at 86 (10.9%) patients, prepyloric and pyloric ulcers - at 441 (56.4%), duodenal ulcers - at 255 (32.6%) patients. Perforation was combined with bleeding and stenosis at 24 (3.1%). Palliative operations have been performed at 172 (22.0%) patients, stem vagotomy with ulcer excision and pyloroplasty - at 58 (7.4%), various types of stomach resection - at 54 (6.9%), proximal gastric vagotomy with excision of gastric, pyloric or duodenal ulcer - at 77 (9.8%), proximal gastric vagotomy with excision or suturing of ulcer and pyloro- or duodenoplasty - at 421 (53.8%) patients. The rate of postoperative complications after proximal gastric vagotomy was 3.6%, after stomach resection - 18.2% (p<0.01). Early postoperative complications after vagotomy with ulcer excision and pyloroplasty were diagnosed at 8.3%, after stomach resection - at 18.2% patients (p<0.01). The quality of patients life was higher after organ-saving operations. Proximal gastric vagotomy with excision of ulcer and pyloro- or duodenoplasty should be regarded as operation of choice at perforated duodenal ulcers.     

Treatment of complicated retroampullar duodenal ulcers

Of the 450 patients with complicated duodenal ulcer disease, in 23 (5.8%) the ulcer was located distally to the duodenal ampulla. On the basis of studying the results of surgical treatment, a conclusion is made, that the selective proximal vagotomy in combination with the ulcer excision and duodenoplasty is an operation of choice in complicated retroampullary ulcers. The operative interventions correcting the disturbances in the duodenal patency in preserved function of the pyloric sphincter contribute to prevention of duodenogastric reflux and alkaline reflux-gastritis.     

扩大壁细胞迷走神经切断术治疗十二指肠溃疡及其并发症

目的：评价扩大壁细胞迷走神经切断术（EPCV）治疗十二指肠溃疡及其并发症的远期临床疗效。方法：采用EPCV共治疗十二指肠溃疡及其并发症321例。其中慢性溃疡56例,并发急性穿孔204例,出血21例,狭窄40例。评价内容包括：术后并发症发生率、胃酸分泌功能、胃排空功能、胃镜和上消化道钡餐检查、营养状态、Visick分级。结果：全组321例患者中289例获得随访,随访率为90%,随访期为0.5-22.0年,平均为11.3年。全组无手术死亡,无纵隔炎和倾倒综合征发生。发生粘连性肠梗阻4例（1.4%）,进食后上腹胀19例（6.5%）,返酸17例（5.8%）,总的溃疡复发16例（5.5%）,其中慢性十二指肠溃疡为19.5%,出血为0,狭窄为5.3%,穿孔为3.1%。16例复发溃疡经内科药物治疗后溃疡愈合10例,其余6例经胃部分切除或胃窦切除痊愈。EPCV总的优良率（VisickⅠ和Ⅱ级）为91.7%,其中穿孔为95.3%,效果最佳。结论：EPCV具有手术操作简便、术后并发症较少、溃疡复发率低、术后远期患者营养状况良好、生活质量较高的特点,疗效优良。EPCV术是治疗十二指肠溃疡及其并发急性穿孔、出血和狭窄首选的安全有效术式。     

Bleeding duodenal ulceration: the results of emergency treatment with highly selective vagotomy.

We report the results of a prospective study of all patients undergoing highly selective vagotomy (HSV) for bleeding duodenal ulceration (BDU) at Concord Hospital between 1979 and 1989. Highly selective vagotomy was undertaken in 63 patients (58 male, 5 female) with a median age of 69 years (range: 16-89). Fifty-five patients were reviewed, 7 patients having died in the peri-operative period and one being lost to follow-up. The mean period to review was 50 months (range: 1-120). Thirty-six patients have been followed-up for more than 24 months. Thirty-day postoperative mortality was 11% (7 patients). Combined major and minor morbidity was 41%. Postoperative rebleeding occurred in four patients (6.3%), three of whom died. Ulceration had recurred in two of 55 patients (4%). Symptoms have been evaluated in 55 patients since operation and 93% have been graded as Visick I or II. We conclude that HSV is effective in the emergency treatment of BDU and has few long-term sequelae.     

Should it be parietal cell vagotomy or selective vagotomy-antrectomy for treatment of duodenal ulcer? A progress report.

This is a progress report of a prospective, randomized study involving 200 consecutive patients treated electively with either parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) or selective vagotomy and antrectomy (SV-A). Both groups comprised patients with pyloric, prepyloric, or duodenal ulcers. There was no operative mortality in either group. Patients were examined at 2, 6, 12 months, and every 12 months thereafter for 8-10 years. The two operations produced no statistical difference in the frequency of diarrhea. Dumping (p less than 0.0005) and weight loss (p less than 0.0005-p less than 0.05) were statistically less after PCV than after SV-A. There were two recurrent ulcers (2.2%) after SV-A. One was treated successfully by medical therapy and one patient suspected of having gastrinoma had total vagotomy. Nine patients had recurrent ulcers in the PCV group for an accumulated recurrence rate of 10.1% at 10 years by life-table analysis. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.033) between the curves for recurrent ulcers in the two groups of patients. The recurrent ulcer rate after PCV was 21% for patients with pyloric and prepyloric ulcers and 6% for patients with duodenal ulcer. There was no significant difference between the recurrent ulcer rate for PCV and SV-A if the patients with pyloric and prepyloric ulcers were withdrawn from the study. Of the nine patients with recurrent ulcers in the PCV group, three had an inadequate vagotomy and four had a pyloric or prepyloric ulcer before operation. Three patients were successfully treated with antrectomy. Five patients were treated successfully by medical therapy and remained healed for long periods without recurrence. One patient had five recurrences. He declined operation and remained free of symptoms for 3 years after his last recurrence. Poor gastric emptying necessitated gastroenterostomy in five patients in the SV-A group and in one patient in the PCV group. Patients' clinical results were evaluated according to a simple Visick grading scale. A significantly (p less than 0.0005) greater number of patients were in Visick I category after PCV than after SV-A. The clinical results obtained with PCV make this the operation of choice for the elective surgical treatment of duodenal ulcers even though the results obtained with SV-A were good.     

An Interim Report on Parietal Cell Vagotomy Versus Selective Vagotomy and Antrectomy for Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer

This is an interim report of a prospective, randomized study involving 194 consecutive patients who underwent elective operation for treatment of duodenal ulcer. The results of parietal cell vagotomy without drainage (PCV) and selective vagotomy-antrectomy and Billroth I anastomosis (SV-A-B I) were compared. There was no mortality. Postoperatively patients were examined at two, six, 12 months and every 12 months thereafter. The two operations showed no statistical difference in the frequency of diarrhea. Dumping was less (p < .01) after PCV than after SV-A-B I. Weight loss was less (p < .01) after PCV than after SV-A-B I. There were no recurrent ulcers after SV-A-B I and five after PCV. In each instance but one the recurrent ulcer healed on withdrawal of an ulcerogenic drug. One patient required reoperation. Reoperations in the PCV group consisted of one for recurrent ulcer, one for gastric outlet obstruction and three for intestinal obstruction. The reoperations after SV-A-B I consisted of four for gastric outlet obstruction, three for intestinal obstruction, one for ruptured spleen and two for incisional hernia. PCV was technically feasible and practical to perform except in the occasional patient with severe pyloric stenosis. Obesity was never a deterrent. After PCV it is reasonable to assume that a recurrent ulcer rate in the range of 5-10% can be expected by surgeons who have been properly trained. This recurrence rate is higher than that after SV-A-B I but no higher than that encountered with TV-P. The recurrence rate is acceptable and is a fair exchange for the avoidance of dumping and weight loss that accompany SV-A-B I with significantly greater frequency and which on occasion can produce gastric crippling, although this did not occur in this study. All recurrent ulcers after PCV do not require reoperation but when operative treatment is required the patient has all the options that he had prior to PCV.