SUBTOTAL GASTRECTOMY AND HEMIGASTRECTOMY WITH VAGOTOMY FOR DUODENAL ULCER

The postoperative course of 90 patients with duodenal ulcer was followed for at least a year in order to compare the results of two operations. Hemigastrectomy with vagotomy was done in 45 cases, and subtotal gastrectomy without vagotomy was done in the others. By some criteria the results of hemigastrectomy with vagotomy were found to be better, but the differences were not strikingly or consistently in favor of this operation. Hemigastrectomy with vagotomy was more frequently followed by the desired achlorhydria, however, and was less frequently followed by disabling sequelae or occurrence of the stomal ulcer. The authors believe that it is the better of the two operations.