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Reflux gastritis is now recognized with increasing frequency as a complication following operations on the stomach which either remove, alter, or bypass the pyloric phincter mechanism. The entity may occasionally occur as a result of sphincter dysfunction in the patient who has not undergone prior gastric surgery. The diagnosis is made on the basis of symptoms (postprandial pain, bilious vomiting and weight loss), gastroscopic examination with biopsy and persistent hypochlorhydria. Remedial operation for correction of reflux is indicated in the presence of persistent symptoms when conservative measures fail. Only operative procedures which divert duodenal contents from the stomach or gastric remnant are effective. Both the isoperistaltic jejunal segment (Henley loop) and the Roux-en-Y diversion have been effective as remedial operations for reflux gastritis and merit greater awareness by gastroenterologists and surgeons. Our choice is the Roux-en-Y because of its technical simplicity and lower morbidity rate.

Despite the relative frequency of iatrogenic splenectomy, its effect on postoperative morbidity and mortality remains controversial. This retrospective study compares the postoperative morbidity and mortality among 72 patients who underwent a Nissen fundoplication for esophageal reflux and 25 patients who had iatrogenic splenectomy and Nissen fundoplication. The age range in both groups was comparable. In the Nissen fundoplication (N.F.) group the average postoperative hospital stay was 9.4 days and in the Nissen fundoplication and splenectomy (N.F. + S.) group postoperative hospital stay was 15 days. In the N.F. group nine patients (12.5%) experienced significant postoperative morbidity in comparison to 36% in the N.F. + S. group (statistically significant p less than 0.1%). In the later group the complications were of a more severe nature. No mortality occurred in the N.F. group and one patient died in the N.F. + S. group. Iatrogenic splenectomy in this patient could well have been a prime factor in precipitating his demise. This retrospective study stongly supports the view that iatrogenic splenectomy in association with Nissen fundoplication adds considerably to postoperative morbidity.

A prospective, randomized study of proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage (PGV) was done in 174 adult men with chronic duodenal ulcer intractable to medical therapy. PGV was randomized against truncal vagotomy with antrectomy (TV + A) and against selective gastric vagotomy with Finney pyloroplasty (SGV + P). Postgastrectomy sequelae (dumping, diarrhea and reflux gastritis) were less after PGV. One patient after PGV developed a recurrent ulcer as did one patient after SGV + P. Two patients developed gastric ulcers after PGV. Good to excellent results (Visick I and II) were obtained in 96% of patients with PGV, 94% with TV + A and 86% with SGV + P. Follow-up studies were from six months to four 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.

Transabdominal fundoplication is an effective operation for control of gastroesophageal reflux in the majority of patients. The operation is, however, associated with several sell-documented early and late complications. Recently, a few reports have appeared describing benign gastric ulceration (GU) occurring from one month to several years postplication. The etiology of GU in this setting is unknown, but preexisting delayed gastric emptying, pyloric incompetence, faulty wrap construction, local ischemia, and trauma to the vagus nerves have been incriminated. During a recent seven-year period, five cases of GU have occurred among a series of 158 patients who underwent fundoplication. The cases are cited in detail, and the recent literature is reviewed. Discussion is addressed to the various proposed factors and combination of factors thought to contribute to GU. Suggestions are included for the preoperative evaluation of patients with gastroesophageal reflux as an aid to intraoperative management. As trauma to the vagus nerves has been frequently mentioned as a contributing factor to postplication ulcer, an operative technique is described in which the vagus nerves are isolated and protected from the fundic wrap.

Twenty-one patients with acute perforated duodenal ulcer were managed by proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage and simple closure of the perforation reinforced with an omental patch. There was no operative mortality. No recurrent duodenal ulcers have developed. All patients have achieved a good to excellent clinical result from their operation. Dumping, diarrhea, and reflux gastritis have not developed. Follow-up studies extend to three and one-half years. Proximal gastric vagotomy with simple closure is safe, effective management for the patient with an acute perforated duodenal ulcer. This operation is a satisfactory compromise between simple closure alone which does not protect against recurrent ulcer and definitive ulcer operations which may subject patients who would not have further ulcer symptoms to the unnecessary risk of increased mortality, morbidity, and postgastrectomy disorders.

The operations of Nissen, Hill, and Belsey are adequate in controlling esophaegeal reflux in the majority of patients. In a small percentage however, objective and subjective evidence of esophagitis persists in spite of repeated operations to restore lower esophageal sphincter competency. These failures are then usually treated by operative procedures of great magnitude involving organ interposition. Repeated antireflux operations directed to the gastroesophageal area may in some instances result in impairment of blood supply with an increased risk of both esophageal and gastric fistulae. In the past many observers have felt that reflux esophagitis resulted solely from the effects of acid-pepsin secretions bathing the distal esophagus. Recently experimental and clinical data have indicated the importance of duodenal contents in the etiology and perpetuation of reflux esophagitis. During a recent two year period, 6 patients with persistent reflux esophagitis uncontrolled by repeated antireflux procedures have been seen on our service. These 6 patients, underwent 12 unsuccessful antireflux operations elsewhere. Three of the 6 patients had also been subjected to vagotomy-antrectomy for a coexisting duodenal ulcer. A marked lowering of gastric acidity took place but esophageal reflux and esophagitis persisted. These three patients were treated on our service by takedown of the Billroth I anastomosis, closure of the duodenal stump and diversion of the duodenal contents into a Roux-en-Y limb. Three other patients who had undergone unsuccessful antireflux procedures alone were subjected to antral resection, Roux-en-Y diversion and transthoracid vagotomy. This simplified appraoch to the treatment of persistent esophageal reflux uncontrolled by repeated antireflux procedures has given satisfactory results. The operation should be considered when technical considerations preclude further surgical attempts to perform another effective antireflux operation. Total duodenal diversion should, however, not be considered as the primary operation for the patient suffering from reflux esophagitis. However, in circumstances discussed above this direct approach appears preferable to major resectional procedures.

During a recent 3-year period, 17 consecutive patients were seen with advanced fibrotic esophageal strictures secondary to alkaline-acid-pepsin reflux. From detailed preoperative evaluations alone it was impossible to determine whether therapy should consist of excisional surgery, esophagogastroplasty or intra-operative dilatation with correction of reflux. Only at operation could the length, extent, degree and severity of the stricture be fully determined. Each of the 17 patients was treated by controlled dilatation, coupled with an antireflux procedure. This simplified approach proved successful on strictures thought preoperatively to be undilatable. It appears that this conservative approach is applicable to many advanced strictures and excisional and plastic procedures should be reserved for those cases that prove unyielding to intraoperative dilatation. The true appraisal of a reflux stricture and the choice of surgical procedure is best determined at the operating table.

Perioperative parenteral cefoxitin was compared with oral erythromycin, neomycin and parenteral cefazolin in a prospective, double-blind, randomized evaluation of 119 patients undergoing colorectal operations. Patients receiving cefoxitin had a higher wound infection rate than patients receiving erythromycin-neomycin-cefazolin (12.5% v 3.2%, respectively, p = .06). A direct correlation existed between the duration of the operation and the infection rate. Cefoxitin prophylaxis was as effective as erythromycin-neomycin-cefazolin in patients undergoing surgical procedures of 4 hours or less (infection rates of 4.8% and 4.0%, respectively). However, for surgical procedures lasting more than 4 hours, 5 of 14 patients (37.5%) receiving cefoxitin developed a wound infection v 0 of 13 patients receiving erythromycin-neomycin-cefazolin (p less than .05). It is speculative as to whether frequent two-gram doses of cefoxitin given during the operation would provide prophylaxis equivalent to erythromycin-neomycin-cefazolin.

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.

This study provides a retrospective comparative analysis of results in 90 women patients who underwent three different elective operations for intractable duodenal ulcer disease. Group I (30 patients) underwent truncal vagotomy/antrectomy (TV + A); group II (30 patients) gastric selective vagotomy/pyloroplasty (GSV + P); and Group III proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV). There were no operative deaths among the 90 patients. No patient after TV + A has developed a recurrent ulcer. Two recurrent ulcers developed after GSV + P, and one gastric ulcer occurred after PGV. Dumping, diarrhea, and reflux gastritis were lower after PGV than with TV + A and GSV + P. Follow-up studies have been from six months to ten years. The clinical results among the three groups of women patients compare favorably with results obtained in a recent prospective randomized study using the identical operative procedures in three groups of men patients operated upon for intractability. There was no statistically significant difference between women and men after similar operative procedures, but the postgastrectomy sequelae were less after PGV in both women and men patients.

By the early part of this century, members of the Southern Surgical Association as well as others began to realize that gastroenterostomy alone was unacceptable for the treatment of gastric ulcer. Ulcer excision and some type of limited resection was advised. At a later date, gastric resection of varying extent, depending on ulcer size and location, became the appropriate treatment for complications of this disease. For treatment of complications of duodenal ulcer, gastroenterostomy was widely used from the latter part of the 19th century until the late 1930s. Adequate gastric resection slowly but cautiously replaced gastroenterostomy during the 1940s. Vagotomy with drainage and vagotomy with antrectomy slowly developed and replaced adequate resection by the early 1970s. Beginning in the 1970s and extending into the 1980s, fewer duodenal ulcers were seen, and many of those encountered were being adequately managed using the H2 receptor blockers. For the intractable duodenal ulcer there is currently an increasing trend to use the less invasive operation of parietal cell vagotomy. Vagotomy with antrectomy for such cases is being used less frequently. Vagotomy and drainage has lost much of its appeal. Lesser procedures have been advocated recently for treatment of marginal ulcer after incomplete vagotomy irrespective of the original operation for ulcer. Massive bleeding and acute perforation are still frequently encountered as complications but are being seen more frequently in elderly high-risk patients, some of whom will tolerate only a lesser procedure as suture ligation, vagotomy with drainage, or simple ulcer closure. It appears that we are now seeing a different duodenal ulcer pattern in the good-risk patient. The ulcers are usually small, less virulent, and less likely to be found penetrating into the pancreas and adjacent organ structures. As Claude Welch so aptly stated recently before the Association, "We are seeing a trend in ulcer surgery that is currently being seen in other areas of surgical endeavors as well." He emphasized that we must be alert to changing disease patterns and adapt our procedures to new requirements.