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The treatment of perforated foregut ulcers by omental patching (OP) or primary closure has mostly replaced vagotomy and pyloroplasty/antrectomy (VPA). We sought to determine the natural history and recurrence rate of ulceration in patients treated by omental patching or primary closure. An 11-year retrospective study. From 2004 through 2015, 94 patients had perforated foregut ulcers, 53 gastric, and 41 duodenal. 77 (82%) were treated by OP alone (study group) and 17 (18%) were treated with VPA (comparison group). All OP patients were discharged on PPIs, but only 86% took the drugs for a median of 22 months (1–192, SD 40). Endoscopy in the OP group showed recurrent ulcers in nine (12% recurrence rate) and gastritis in three (4%) This group also had three later recurrent perforations. Another recurrent ulcer hemorrhaged causing death (3% late mortality). Two other patients required non-emergent re-do ulcer operations for recurrent disease/symptoms (surgical re-intervention rate 4%). Total length of follow-up was median 44 months (1–192, SD 40) and was complete in 82 (87%). 18 (23%) patients in the OP group developed recurrent abdominal pain attributed to ulcer disease during follow-up, compared to 2 (12%) in the VPA group (p = 0.15). No patient in the VPA group had an endoscopic recurrence or re-intervention. Omental patching does not correct the underlying disease process which causes foregut perforation, and has a 12% endoscopically proven recurrent ulceration rate and a 23% incidence of recurrent symptoms within 44 months. Patients tend to stop taking PPIs after 22 months at which time their risk increases.

Food intake is regulated by vagal afferent signals from the stomach. Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic peptide produced within the gastrointestinal tract and has well defined central effects. We aimed to determine if nesfatin-1 can modulate gastric vagal afferent signals in the periphery and further whether this is altered in different nutritional states. Female C57BL/6J mice were fed either a standard laboratory diet (SLD) or a high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks or fasted overnight. Plasma nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2; nesfatin-1 precursor)/nesfatin-1 levels were assayed, the expression of NUCB2 in the gastric mucosa and adipose tissue was assessed using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. An in vitro preparation was used to determine the effect of nesfatin-1 on gastric vagal afferent mechanosensitivity. HFD mice exhibited an increased body weight and adiposity. Plasma NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels were unchanged between any of the groups of mice. NUCB2 mRNA was detected in the gastric mucosa and gonadal fat of SLD, HFD and fasted mice with no difference in mRNA abundance between groups in either tissue. In SLD and fasted mice nesfatin-1 potentiated mucosal receptor mechanosensitivity, an effect not observed in HFD mice. Tension receptor mechanosensitivity was unaffected by nesfatin-1 in SLD and fasted mice, but was inhibited in HFD mice. In conclusion, Nesfatin-1 modulates gastric vagal afferent mechanosensitivity in a nutritional state dependent manner.

While bone disease is occasionally seen after gastrectomy, the influence of vagotomy on calcium and vitamin D metabolism is uncertain. We have, therefore, investigated 23 male patients who had undergone highly selective vagotomy for ulcer 4.3 +/- 1.2 years previously. The 25OHD concentrations were decreased (p less than 0.05), the 1,25(OH)2D concentrations elevated (p less than 0.05) and the immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentrations normal. Local and total bone mass were normal compared to age-matched men, and there was no biochemical evidence of increased bone turnover. We suggest that the changes in calcium absorption, which are described in the literature after vagotomy, are mediated by 1,25(OH)2D. Although the changes in vitamin D metabolism do not lead to calcium-metabolic disturbances in selected patients, we believe that some will eventually develop vitamin D deficiency and that vitamin D supplementation should be considered.

Of 377 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer undergoing highly selective vagotomy, 13 were splenectomized peroperatively because of capsular tear. 12 of these patients were alive at the time of the subsequent investigation and each was matched with a non-splenectomized patient. The postoperative interval was almost 5 years (median). The splenectomized patients were characterized by their longer hospitalization, and increased blood counts of lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets revealed increased numbers of both T and B lymphocytes after splenectomy. Among the T cells, those with receptors for Fc of IgG were significantly more numerous in the splenectomized group. It is a matter of controversy whether or not this population contains T suppressor cells. Hence further functional investigations are needed to clarify whether our observations bear any relation to the low level of plasma IgM found by us and others in splenectomized individuals. Screening for complement activation by the classical and alternative pathways did not reveal any defects resulting from splenectomy.

Cardiorespiratory changes induced by pneumoperitoneum and head-up tilt may generate alveolar ventilation to perfusion ratio changes and increased systemic vascular resistances. The reliability of end-tidal carbon dioxide tension and pulse oximetry in predicting arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure and arterial oxygen saturation may therefore be affected. The 35 ASA 1-2 patients in this study comprised 12 men and 23 women aged 48 (SD 17) years and weighing 71 (SD 14) kg. Twenty-nine were to undergo upper abdominal laparoscopy for cholecystectomy and six hyperselective vagotomy. Intra-abdominal pressure was 1.7 (SD 0.9) kPa and head-up tilt was 5.6 (SD 4.2) degrees. After abdominal insuflation, arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure significantly increased (p < 0.05). However, the arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure-end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure gradient remained constant throughout surgery. This gradient was highly correlated with arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (p < 0.0001), but was not correlated with elapsed time, intra-abdominal pressure or head-up tilt. Arterial oxygen saturation was always greater than 95% in all patients and the arterial oxygen saturation-pulse oximetric saturation gradient was always less than or equal to +4%. In conclusion, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure and pulse oximetric saturation allow reliable monitoring of arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure and arterial oxygen saturation in the absence of pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease and/or acute peroperative disturbance.

Background: All the risk factors of peptic ulcer disease are not thoroughly understood. Goals: To assess duodenal gastric metaplasia (DGM) in relation to Helicobacter pylori status and endoscopy findings with special reference to the effects of highly selective vagotomy. Study: The study population consisted of 1056 adult patients and an additional 154 patients who had had a highly selective vagotomy. Their clinical and endoscopy records as well as the histology of gastric and duodenal biopsies were evaluated retrospectively. H. pylori infection had been determined by serology and culture. Results: Widespread (more than 20%) DGM was strongly associated with H. pylori positive duodenal ulcer disease (in 59.7% of patients). The prevalence of DGM diminished progressively the more proximally the ulcer was located in the stomach, and was 2.5% in proximal gastric ulcers patients. In vagotomized patients, the prevalence of widespread DGM (8.4% of patients, median 14 years after operation and the majority still H. pylori positive) was close to that of patients with H. pylori gastritis without peptic ulcer disease (4.5%). Conclusions: Widespread DGM is an indicator for an increased risk of duodenal ulcer among H. pylori positive patients and it could be used to select patients for eradication therapy.

In the treatment of duodenal ulcer the hyperselective vagotomy is recommended by the authors. On the other hand it has indications and contraindications which must be taken into account. The rational attitude is that of a differentiated surgical treatment, in which the various methods, classical gastrectomy included, find their indication from case to case.

Highlight unresolved controversies in the management of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES).Recent studies have resolved some of the previous controversies including the surgical cure rate in patients with and without Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia-type1 (MEN1), the biological behavior of duodenal and pancreatic gastrinomas, role of imaging studies to localize tumor, and gastrectomy to manage acid output.Review of the literature based on computer searches in Index Medicus, Pubmed and Ovid.Current controversies as identified in the literature include the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), surgery in ZES patients with MEN1, pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), lymph node primary gastrinoma, parietal cell vagotomy, reoperation and surgery for metastatic tumor, and the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques to localize and remove gastrinoma.It is hoped that future studies will focus on these issues to improve the surgical management of ZES patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of gastrocystoplasty and the effects of selective antral vagotomy (SAV) on the postprandial gastrin secretion from the antrum as well as on the acid secretion from the augmented bladder. Materials and Methods: In this study on 12 male pigs, we applied subtotal cystectomy plus gastric augmentation plus SAV to the study group and the same procedure without SAV to the control group. The animals were followed up for 3 months with respect to feeding, weight, and urine output. The urine pH levels and the gastrin levels of the pigs in the two groups were then followed up and compared. Results: The use of gastric segments in bladder reconstruction was found to be appropriate in terms of both gastric function and urinary system function. Nevertheless, regarding the effect of SAV, the differences between either the urinary pH levels or the gastrin levels of the pigs in the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusions: Although gastric segments in the bladder reconstruction were found to be appropriate in terms of both gastric function and urinary system function, SAV did not prevent postprandial gastrin secretion and the resulting increase of the urine acidity.

During Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (RYGB), some surgeons elect to perform a vagotomy to reduce symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER). Routine vagotomy during RYGB may independently affect weight loss and metabolic outcomes following bariatric surgery. We aimed to determine whether vagotomy augments percent excess weight loss in obese patients after RYGB.We examined the effect of vagotomy in 1278 patients undergoing RYGB at our institution from 2003 to 2009. Weight and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) were modelled at three months and annually up to five years using a longitudinal linear mixed model controlling for differences in age, gender, initial body mass index (BMI), ideal body weight, and presence of vagotomy.Vagotomy was performed on 40.3% of our cohort. Vagotomy patients had significantly lower initial BMI (46.4±6.2 vs. 48.3±7.7kg/m(2), p0.001), but there were no other significant differences at baseline. The strongest predictor of %EWL over time was initial BMI, with lower BMI patients exhibiting greater %EWL (p0.001). Age and gender effects were also significant, with younger patients (p0.04) and males (p0.002) attaining greater %EWL. Vagotomy had no effect on %EWL in either simple or multiple regression models.Our series suggest that vagotomy does not augment %EWL when performed with RYGB.

Background/Aim. The incidence of peptic ulcer-induced gastric outlet obstruction is constantly declining. The aim of this study was to present our results in the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction with highly selective vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy. Methods. This retrospective clinical study included 13 patients with peptic ulcer - induced gastric outlet obstruction operated with higly selective vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy. A 3-year follow-up was conducted including clinical interview and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on 1 and 3 years after the surgery. Results. The most common preoperative symptom was vomiting (in 92.3% of patients). The mean preoperative body mass index was 16.3 ? 3.1 kg/m2, with 9 patients classified preoperatively as underweight. There were no intraoperative complications, nor mortality. At a 3-year follow-up there was no ulcer recurrence. Delayed gastric emptying was present in 1, bile reflux in 2, and erosive gastritis in 1 patient. Two patients suffered from mild ?dumping? syndrome. Conclusion. Higly selective vagotomy combined with gastrojejunostomy is a safe and easily feasible surgical solution of gastric outlet obstruction induced by peptic ulcer. Good functional results and low rate of complications can be expected at a long-term follow-up.

Acute cold exposure-induced activation of gastric myenteric neurons in conscious rats was examined on longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus whole mount preparations. Few Fos-immunoreactive (IR) cells (

Background: Highly selective vagotomy and complete circular or partial duodenectomy have been applied to complicated duodenal ulcer for many years. These procedures seem to provide better clinical results than truncal vagotomy and antrectomy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 120 patients with complicated duodenal ulcer who underwent surgical treatment between 1986 and 1999. Patients with obstruction were treated with either circular complete (17) or partial duodenectomy (3) combined with highly selective vagotomy or truncal vagotomy and antrectomy (37). Those with perforation were treated primarily with highly selective vagotomy and partial duodenectomy, highly selective vagotomy alone, or truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Every patient was followed up either by a clinic visit (75%) or questionnaire to determine the presence of ulcer pain, dumping, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and Visick grade. Results: Long-term follow-up of patients treated with duodenectomy and highly selective vagotomy for obstruction showed that 94% had sustained weight gain whereas more than half of those treated with truncal vagotomy and antrectomy had weight loss. In patients with perforation, duodenectomy and highly selective vagotomy offered no advantage over highly selective vagotomy alone. Conclusions: Highly selective vagotomy and complete circular or partial duodenectomy provide fewer sequelae and better weight gain long term than truncal vagotomy and antrectomy for patients with obstructing duodenal ulcers.

Treatment results of 59 patients with the complicated ulcer disease were analyzed. Authors prove, that in cases of perforative duodenal ulcer, the operation should aim the treatment of all the complications. The use of 2/3 gaster resection in combination with Jadd pyloroplasty and trunk vagotomy led to the decrease of the lethality rate on 21%.

Proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) has little impact on the normal pattern of solid gastric emptying, despite denervation of the proximal two thirds of the stomach and loss of the proximal gastric pump. In four healthy volunteers and four patients with PGV, we investigated the possible compensatory mechanisms that may come into play after proximal denervation of the stomach. We measured antropyloroduodenal motility with a 10-lumen sleeve/side-hole catheter for 180 minutes after ingestion of a dual-isotope radiolabeled mixed liquid/solid meal. Patients with PGV exhibited faster liquid emptying, but the rate of solid emptying was similar to that in healthy volunteers. The frequency of propagated antropyloric pressure waves was similar between the two groups, but patients with PGV exhibited less isolated pressure waves in the proximal antrum. The amplitude and duration of pressure waves recorded in the distal antrum were significantly increased in the PGV patients as compared to healthy volunteers. Although the pattern of propagated antral contractions and solid gastric emptying remains unchanged after PGV, there is an increase in the amplitude and duration of distal antral contractions, which may compensate for loss of proximal gastric pumping mechanisms.

Indications for surgery of duodenal ulcer (DU) have changed radically because of the efficacy of H2-antagonists, endoscopic procedures, and eradication of Helicobacter pylorus. The aim of this study was to analyze the current literature to determine if definitive surgery is still relevant for complicated DU (bleeding, perforation, gastric outlet obstruction). Two studies have compared early to late surgery in terms of bleeding. One recommended early surgery (significant reduction in mortality) in the elderly, but no statistically significant difference was found when analyzed with “intention to treat.” In the other, mortality with early surgery was five times higher than with expectant therapy (when it was possible). Two studies comparing different surgical techniques for bleeding favored the radical procedure. Of at least 15 studies comparing endoscopic treatments, however, none has compared endoscopic therapy to surgical intervention for bleeding DU. One trial, comparing nonoperative to surgical treatment for perforation, found similar rates of morbidity, intraabdominal abscess, and mortality; but the hospital stay was longer (p < 0.001). Nonoperative treatment failed more often (p < 0.05) in patients over age 70. In three trials, postoperative morbidity (excepting wound sepsis in one) was not significantly increased by definitive surgery, with less ulcer recurrence (p < 0.05) compared with simple closure. Laparoscopy (versus laparotomy) was shown to take longer (p < 0.001) but required less postoperative analgesics (p < 0.03); there were no statistically significant differences as concerns the duration of nasogastric aspiration, intravenous drips, hospital stay, time to resume normal diet, Visual Analogous Scale pain scores for the first 24 hours after surgery, morbidity, reoperation rate, or mortality. Of 48 laparoscopic patients, 11 (23%) underwent conversion to open surgery. Three surgical techniques [highly selective vagotomy (HSU) + gastrojejunostomy (group 1), HSV + Jaboulay gastroduodenostomy (group 2), or selective vagotomy (group 3) + antrectomy) for gastric outlet obstruction (GOO)] showed that although postoperative results were similar (except wound sepsis in one trial), long-term Visick scores were significantly (p < 0.01) better in group 1 than in group 2, but not in group 3. Further studies are needed to determine the exact prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in complicated DU and to compare (1) definitive to minimal surgery (stop the bleeding or close the perforation) combined with antisecretory drugs and eradication of H. pylori; (2) surgery to endoscopic treatment combined with eradication of H. pylori; and (3) for GOO, surgery to balloon dilatation combined with eradication of H. pylori.

Proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) is a modification of truncal vagotomy, which was introduced by Dragstedt for the treatment of duodenal ulcer (DU) in 1943. It is a technically demanding operation; but when performed by an experienced surgeon, it is safe and gives a cure rate for DU of more than 90%, with minimal side effects. The operation permanently alters the natural history of the disease and may be used for gastric ulcer (GU), with ulcer excision; but it is not as effective. Further adaptations, such as posterior truncal vagotomy with anterior seromyotomy, were introduced to simplify and shorten the operation, but they did not receive wide acceptance. Recently, with the identification of Helicobacter, it was found that DU can also be cured by eliminating the infection. PGV is therefore used electively in patients with persistent DU that is not Helicobacter-positive or in the few in whom Helicobacter cannot be eliminated. In patients with bleeding or perforated DUs, PGV may be used in conjunction with underrunning the vessel or patching the perforation. However, few surgeons doing emergency peptic ulcer surgery have experience with PGV, so simple suture followed by medical treatment is the safest option. Because elective PGV is now a rare procedure, patients should be referred to a center with special expertise. If Helicobacter becomes resistant to antibiotics in the future, surgery may be needed regularly again, but the technical nuances would have to be relearned.

Patients with peptic ulcer occasionally develop complications that require surgical intervention, despite the advances in medical treatment and changes in the natural history of disease. The clinical surgeon must make a decision about performing "selective vagotomy antrectomy versus highly selective vagotomy," based on the information discussed herein. The goals for operative treatment remain safe correction of the presenting problem, avoidance of perioperative morbidity and mortality, and freedom from disabling postoperative side effects. This paper addresses broad aspects of the details of surgical interventions; because most operative procedures are performed in urgent circumstances in patients who often have a variety of conditions, it is not surprising that there is no best operation suited to every complication of ulcer.

Background: Open Nissen fundoplication has been the most common surgical treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The present paper describes the symptomatic result, and quantifies the acid reduction achieved by open Nissen fundoplication combined with highly selective vagotomy (HSV) in a consecutive case series. Methods: A study of 106 patients undergoing open Nissen fundoplication and HSV for GORD was performed between 1988 and 1996. A history consistent with reflux was obtained and the diagnosis confirmed with ambulatory oesophageal pH studies and endoscopy. Postoperative pH studies were performed, and peri-operative and late complications were recorded. A standard questionnaire was sent out to patients postoperatively to assess the efficacy of surgery. Results: Pre-operative pH studies were performed on 104 (98%) patients, and on 97 (91.5%) following surgery. There was a highly significant improvement in all parameters of the pH study postoperatively. All symptoms, including bloating and dysphagia, improved significantly postoperatively, except flatulence, which was exacerbated. The majority of patients were very satisfied with their outcome, 82% rating the operation from 80 to 100% successful. Complications were rare and there was no mortality. Conclusions: Open Nissen fundoplication and HSV is an effective method of treating GORD, producing an improvement in symptoms and in ambulatory pH studies.

Gastric emptying has been reported to be both delayed and unchanged following posterior truncal vagotomy combined with anterior seromyotomy (PTV + AS). When compared to highly selective vagotomy (HSV), our clinical experience was that PTV + AS not uncommonly produced postprandial distress. We studied gastric emptying of both liquids and solids 3 and 12 months following HSV and PTV + AS to determine what if any differences there were in gastric emptying between the two procedures. We compared these results with those from studies done in both normal subjects and unoperated duodenal ulcer patients. In 26 duodenal ulcer patients with perforation (n = 18) or bleeding (n = 8), who were treated with HSV (n = 10) or PTV + AS (n = 16), gastric emptying of liquids and solids was evaluated at 3 months and 12 months postoperatively. At 3 months, gastric emptying of liquids was delayed in both the HSV and PTV + AS groups as compared to values in both normal subjects and unoperated duodenal ulcer patients. The emptying of solids was markedly delayed by PTV + AS in contrast to HSV at 3 months (167.1 +/- 28.4 minutes vs. 79.9 +/- 16.7 minutes; P

Background: Transmucosal chemoneurolytic injection of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) has previously been shown to duplicate operative proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) in controlling gastric acid secretion. In this study, BAC was evaluated as to efficacious dose, methods of delivery, and systemic toxicities. Methods: Sham celiotomy, operative PGV controls, transmucosal injections through a gastrotomy, and transserosal injections of BAC (saline controls, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10 mg BAC/kg body wt) were administered to SpragueDawley rats. After 3 months the rats underwent Congo red testing (CRT), horseradish peroxidase (HRP) neuronal staining, and necropsy. The color density change of the gastric mucosa from basic to acidic demonstrated by the CRT at the time of necropsy was used to calculate the residual anatomic acid-secreting area. Prior to necropsy, subserosal HRP injections into the anterior and posterior stomach walls assayed vagal neuronal viability via retrograde axonal flow. Results were compared by an ANOVA. Results: The results demonstrated that 1.25‐10 mg/kg transmucosal BAC replicated the results of operative PGV; 2.5 mg/kg was found to be the most effective dose. All injection groups including saline controls demonstrated similar diminished vagal retrograde axonal flow by HRP testing consistent with local BAC chemoneurolytic effects. No systemic toxic symptoms were observed after tail vein intravenous BAC 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg. Conclusions: These efficacy studies have demonstrated BAC’s potential utility in the performance of endoscopic transmucosal chemoneurolytic PGV.

The technical considerations and preliminary results of 119 patients submitted to laparoscopic highly selective vagotomy are presented. There were 33 with duodenal ulcers, 31 with duodenal ulcers plus gastroesophageal reflux, and 55 with gastroesophageal reflux. Operating time varied from 120 to 160 minutes. Six complications occurred: four perforations of the gastric fundus and two bleeding episodes. Conversion to open surgery was done in four cases and reoperation in one case. No deaths occurred, and the mean hospital stay was 3 days. The mean follow-up was 16 months, being 94% of the cases with Visick I or II and 6% with Visick III or IV. This technique is completely feasible by laparoscopic procedure and reproduces exactly what has been done with the laparotomy approach.

Nutritional stimulation of the cholecystokinin-1 receptor (CCK-1R) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-mediated vagal reflex was shown to reduce inflammation and preserve intestinal integrity. Mast cells are important early effectors of the innate immune response; therefore modulation of mucosal mast cells is a potential therapeutic target to control the acute inflammatory response in the intestine. The present study investigates intestinal mast cell responsiveness upon nutritional activation of the vagal anti-inflammatory reflex during acute inflammation. Mucosal mast cell degranulation was induced in C57/Bl6 mice by administration of Salmonella enterica LPS. Lipid-rich enteral feeding prior to LPS significantly decreased circulatory levels of mouse mast cell protease at 30 min post-LPS compared with isocaloric low-lipid nutrition or fasting. CCK-1R blockage reversed the inhibitory effects of lipid-rich feeding, whereas stimulation of the peripheral CCK-1R mimicked nutritional mast cell inhibition. The effects of lipid-rich nutrition were negated by nAChR blockers chlorisondamine and α-bungarotoxin and vagal intestinal denervation. Accordingly, release of β-hexosaminidase by MC/9 mast cells following LPS or IgE-ovalbumin complexes was dose dependently inhibited by acetylcholine and nicotine. Application of GSK1345038A, a specific agonist of the nAChR α7, in bone marrow-derived mast cells from nAChR β2−/− and wild types indicated that cholinergic inhibition of mast cells is mediated by the nAChR α7 and is independent of the nAChR β2. Together, the present study reveals mucosal mast cells as a previously unknown target of the nutritional anti-inflammatory vagal reflex.

T his festschrift is written to honor the lifetime of achievement in Surgery of Lloyd M. Nyhus: academician, surgical scholar, clinician, and author. The most visible results of these efforts, his scientific work and textbooks, are familiar to almost all living surgeons; they will influence Surgery and Surgical Practice for the foreseeable future. Less visible, but perhaps of greater value, has been his influence on several generations of surgeons during the formative years of their careers. Much of the scientific work in this festschrift began or was made possible as a result of his interest and sustained support of his students. Some topics are direct descendants of his areas of investigation in Seattle or at the University of Illinois at Chicago; others are the result of his encouragement to pursue a particular line of inquiry, or to study with a particular mentor.

Background The occurrence of postvagotomy complications was initially considered an unavoidable but acceptable consequence of duodenal ulcer surgery. Following the description of “selective” vagotomy procedures, however, it became apparent that effective ulcer surgery might be accomplished without unpleasant sequellae. Methods In 1957 the experimental basis for “highly” selective vagotomy (HSV), which preserved antral innervation, was reported. HSV was performed in several European centers between 1960 and 1968, and was widely accepted there. Surgeons in the United States, in contrast, were largely reluctant to use HSV, an operation which had an excessive ulcer recurrence rate compared to vagotomy-antrectomy. More recently, HSV is recognized as a successful operation, due to more complete division of preganglionic gastric vagal nerves (“extended” HSV) and the liberal use of pyloric reconstruction in patients with juxtapyloric ulcers. Results HSV is performed with minimal morbidity, with an incidence of recurrent ulcer which is less than 5%. Complications such as dumping, diarrhea, and gastric atony are quite rare. Conclusions HSV is an ideal procedure for most patients with duodenal ulcer. Because most operations for ulcer are performed for urgent or lifethreatening problems, the most common operation performed in the United States today is truncal vagotomy combined with pyloroplasty or gastric resection. Earlier operation for chronic ulcer has many potential advantages.

Since the publication by Dragstedt and Owens in 1943 5 showing the effectiveness of vagotomy in the treatment of duodenal ulcer disease, vagotomy has become the cornerstone of the surgical treatment of duodenal ulcers. There has been a constant evolution in the surgical treatment, beginning with truncal vagotomy combined with a gastric drainage procedure and evolving into the highly selective vagotomy. This evolution was halted in the late 1970s with the appearance of the first H 2 receptor antagonists. The introduction of H 2 receptor antagonists into clinical practice resulted in the majority of patients healing their ulcers with aggressive medical management. 17 The addition of omeprazole 2 to H 2 receptor antagonists and the discovery of Helicobacter pylori 8 have virtually eliminated the need for elective ulcer surgery. Because of the success of medical management, the few operations for peptic ulcer disease that are being done are performed on an urgent or emergent basis for acute hemorrhage, perforation, or obstruction. 7 These patients are usually sicker and tend to be older, leading to higher morbidity and mortality than those seen for elective surgery. 18 Highly selective vagotomy has provided a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Clinical series report a mortality rate of 0.3% and a recurrence rate of 3% to 30%. 11,13,16,21 This, together with the emergence of minimally invasive surgery, has provided a new approach to the treatment of duodenal ulcer disease. 14 Katkhouda and Mouiel described laparoscopic vagotomy for the treatment of chronic ulcer disease. 14 Significant benefits are realized with minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopic vagotomy is not only beneficial to patients refractory to medical therapy but can be used as an alternative to life-long pharmacologic therapy. This has revitalized the operative treatment of peptic ulcer disease. This article summarizes the rationale and development of vagotomy for ulcer disease and the role of laparoscopic operations in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. The traditional open surgical procedures are discussed, and the laparoscopic modifications are reviewed.

Open highly selective vagotomy (HSV) has withstood the rigors of objective evaluation to become the optimal surgical treatment for chronic duodenal ulcer refractory to medical therapy in many centers. Laparoscopic HSV has not been subjected to the same scrutiny before entering clinical practice. A controlled animal study was conducted to demonstrate the physiological validity of laparoscopic HSV. Experimental groups underwent laparoscopic and open highly selective vagotomies, and control groups underwent a sham laparoscopic gastric mobilization or no operative procedure. Gastric acid output was measured by an aspiration technique, liquid gastric emptying was calculated by the double sampling technique of George, and gastroesophageal reflux was assessed by 8-h ambulatory pH monitoring. Laparoscopic HSV was as effective as its open counterpart in reducing basal acid output, and laparoscopic HSV did not interfere with liquid gastric emptying in contrast to open HSV. Neither open nor laparoscopic HSV was observed to precipitate gastroesophageal reflux. These data suggested that the continued use of laparoscopic HSV in clinical practice is appropriate.

The purpose of this review is to assess the position of laparoscopic gastric surgery. Only for perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers a prospective randomized study is available without revealing meaningful differences between conventional and laparoscopic procedure. The elective laparoscopic Selective Proximal Vagotomy (SPV) of stomach and duodenal ulcers was reported on some 200 patients till now. The perioperative risk was lower than that of the conventional method. Due to only short follow-up statements on the risk of ulcer recurrence and therefore completion of vagotomy can not be made. Because of operative technical difficulties some examinators have modified the Selective Proximal Vagotomy, but long-term results with these techniques and the conventional method do not exist. Till now a laparoscopic resection of the stomach was done in less than 100 patients. At comparable risk of both methods representative conclusions could not be made. Similar small are the experiences with laparoscopic resection of the stomach or gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. The results suppose that a systematic lymph node dissection of the compartment II is only restrictevly possible. The operative risk is nearly that of the conventional method. Laparoscopic staging is a favourable indication in gastric surgery with the aim to detect peritoneal metastases and to spare the patient an exploratory laparotomy. Furthermore, laparoscopy offers advantages in palliative procedures, without existence of extensive proof. Nowadays it is applied for extreme obesity and "Gastric Banding", a method with low perioperative risk. Whether the long-term results are equivalent to those of conventional stomach bypass operations is not proved so far. Alltogether the advantages of laparoscopy in comparison to conventional gastric surgery are only obvious in a few clinical situations. Qualified randomized prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the new operation techniques.

The Danish professor, surgeon, medical superintendent, researcher and writer of fictional literature Erik Amdrup is one of the inventors of the parietal cell vagotomy. He carried out many internationally acclaimed research projects about the surgical treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer. At the same time he witnessed the changes in the conditions at the Danish hospitals. He used his professional experiences in his prose and his memoirs. They give an insight into the younger Danish history of medicine.

Between 1975 and 1980, 30 patients with type I corporeal gastric ulcer were randomly allocated to undergo selective proximal vagotomy with ulcer excision or partial gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy. Sixteen patients underwent selective proximal vagotomy (1 was excluded from the follow-up since microscopic examination of the excised ulcer revealed an early gastric cancer) and 14 underwent partial gastrectomy. No significant differences in the clinical results were found 3 years after surgery. During a median follow-up of 10 years, ulcer recurred in 3 patients after selective proximal vagotomy and in 2 after partial gastrectomy. One patient in each group had recurrent ulcer without symptoms and received no treatment. Two selective proximal vagotomy patients and three partial gastrectomy patients had epigastric pain with or without ulcer. One patient with selective proximal vagotomy underwent a second operation because of epigastric pain and recurrent ulcer. Bowel habits remained unchanged in all but one patient in each group, and mild or moderate dumping was recorded for two patients in each group. Very good or good results (modified Visick scale) were recorded for 11 of 15 patients after selective proximal vagotomy and for 10 of 14 patients after partial gastrectomy. Except for one patient in each group who had moderate dumping, patients classified as Visick III or IV had no symptoms during treatment with antacids or H2-blockers, or had asymptomatic ulcers and needed no treatment. Selective proximal vagotomy reduced the median acid response to insulin hypoglycemia and to pentagastrin by 100% and 80%, respectively, for at least 3 to 5 years, and partial gastrectomy reduced the median acid response to pentagastrin by 97%. In our opinion, selective proximal vagotomy with ulcer excision is an alternative to partial gastrectomy for surgically treating type I gastric ulcer.

Early studies suggested that gastric surgery for benign ulcer disease was associated with a subsequent increase in the risk of large bowel cancer. Dietary fats, altered bacterial flora, and secondary bile acids are considered to play a major role in the disease etiology. Gastric surgery is known to alter bile salt metabolism as well as bacterial flora in the colon. This cohort study was designed to investigate the risk of large bowel cancer following gastric surgery for benign ulcer disease and to identify potential patient and treatment characteristics that may be associated with this risk. A cohort of 15,983 males was selected from Department of Veterans Affairs hospital admissions in 1970 and 1971. The exposed group (n = 7,609) included all males treated with gastric surgery (resection or vagotomy and drainage) for benign ulcer disease. The unexposed group (n = 8,374) was a random sample of all other male patients from the same time period and database. All subjects were followed through 1989 to identify vital status and cause of death. Deaths were identifiable by computerized linkage of the subjects' social security numbers with the Department of Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Record Locator System and the National Death Index. The cause of death was documented by two certified nosologists from the death certificates of 99% of the deceased patients. Statistical analyses included estimations of risk based on standardized mortality ratios and standardized risk ratios. In this selected cohort, no increase in large bowel cancer risk was detected (risk ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.62-1.05). The type of surgical procedure, ulcer diagnosis, age at the time of surgery, and length of follow-up did not alter the risk estimates. Unlike the previously identified increase in gastric cancer risk following ulcer surgery, no elevation in the risk of large bowel cancer following such surgery was detected in this study. Factors that may alter gastric surgery sequelae and resultant site-specific cancer risks deserve further investigations.

It has been shown that truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (TVP), but not highly selective vagotomy (HSV), delays the onset, decreases the extent, and changes the pattern of gallbladder emptying. The aim of the present study was to investigate any alterations in gallbladder emptying after a variety of antiulcer gastric surgery, by milk-technetium 99m (99mTc)-dimethyl iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scintigraphy. After excluding the cases with spontaneous gallbladder evacuation before milk ingestion, there were 26 controls, 41 duodenal ulcer (DU) patients, 22 after HSV (15 prospective cases), 50 after TVP (23 prospective cases), 8 after TV with gastrojejunostomy (TV-GJ), 10 after Billroth I gastrectomy, and 29 after Billroth II gastrectomy. None of the patients with gastrectomy had additional vagotomy. TVP significantly delayed the onset and decreased the rate of gallbladder emptying as compared with the control, DU, HSV, and Billroth I groups. TVP also changed the pattern of emptying in 20% of the cases (sequential emptying and refilling events). Antiulcer operations excluding the duodenum (TV-GJ and Billroth II) further reduced the rate of gallbladder emptying as compared with (1) control, DU, HSV, and Billroth I groups (P0.0001) and (2) TVP (P0.001). Onset of gallbladder emptying was not affected by Billroth II gastrectomy, but was significantly delayed by TV-GJ (P0.001). The latter two operations also significantly changed the pattern of gallbladder emptying, exhibiting sequential emptying and refilling events, in most cases (P0.01 versus TVP). In conclusion, all antiulcer procedures, except HSV, greatly disturb the pattern, the onset, and the rate of gallbladder emptying. Truncal vagotomy seems to disrupt vagally mediated preduodenal mechanism, resulting in delayed onset and reduced rate, whereas duodenal exclusion by gastrojejunostomy results in severely decreased rate of gallbladder emptying.

Highly selective vagotomy (HSV) or sham operation was performed in male rats. Fifteen weeks later bone mineralization, fractional intestinal absorption and balance, urinary excretion, and serum levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, together with serum gastrin, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, vitamin D metabolites, osteocalcin, isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase, and the urinary excretion of cyclic AMP and hydroxyproline were assessed. HSV induced chronic hypergastrinemia and enhanced the weight of the fundus, antrum, and pancreas. Body weight, food intake, intestinal absorption, mineral balance, and bone mineralization were unaffected by HSV, whereas serum parathyroid hormone levels and urinary hydroxyproline excretion were increased. It is concluded that in the rat 1) HSV has a trophic effect on gastric and extragastric tissues; 2) gastric acid production is not a major determinant of intestinal calcium absorption; and 3) normal bone mass in the presence of signs of hyperparathyroidism indicates an intrinsic capacity of HSV to interfere with calcium metabolism, probably via hypergastrinemia, gastrin being an element of the gastro-parathyroid axis. Our present findings underscore the fact that osteopenia after HSV in man may be a rare finding, but it cannot be ruled out that bone disease found after partial or total gastrectomy may be due in part to concomitant vagotomy.

Background/aims Indications for surgery in patients with duodenal ulcers have changed radically. Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a complication that can result from duodenal ulcers. From the perspective of organ preservation, gastroduodenostomy (e.g. Jaboulay procedure) is ideal for the treatment of GOO due to duodenal ulcer-induced stricture; however, delayed gastric emptying is frequently observed postoperatively. We compared the short-term clinical outcomes of Jaboulay procedure with those of antrectomy. Methodology We retrospectively studied 30 patients who underwent surgery for GOO due to duodenal ulcer. The patients were divided into the J group (those who underwent highly selective vagotomy with Jaboulay gastroduodenostomy) and the A group (those who underwent highly selective vagotomy and antrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction). Results The mean duration of nasogastric suction, number of days until diet initiation, number of days until oral ingestion of solid food and postoperative duration of hospitalization were significantly shorter in the A group than in the J group. Moreover, delayed gastric emptying was significantly less frequent in the A group than in the J group. Conclusions Considering the short-term postoperative outcomes, we believe that highly selective vagotomy and antrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction are the preferred procedures for duodenal ulcer-induced GOO.

Modern approaches to surgical treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers in accordance with principles of antirecurrence therapy, directed on prophylaxis of postoperative complications occurrence, are enlighted.

Antireflux surgery in recent years become a standard treatment for complicated forms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Complicated forms of GERD are usually the result of the availability of hiatal hernia (HH). Acquired shortening of the esophagus is a natural complication of severe reflux esophagitis developing on a background of sliding HH. Among surgeons disagree about the appropriateness of the laparoscopic antireflux interventions for patients with a shortening of the esophagus. On the basis of the Central Research Institute of Gastroenterology 35 patients were performed to laparoscopic surgery by truncation of the esophagus. Analysis of results showed the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic access for treatment of reflux esophagitis in patients with the esophagus truncation.

Laparoscopic adaptation of highly selective vagotomy procedures associated with no mortality, low morbidity and no reports of diarrhoea and dumping syndrome has been reported. Although experience to date with these procedures is limited, they hold the promise of being a viable alternative for patients refractory to medical therapy or for those non-complaint with long-term maintenance pharmacologic treatment. Simple closure of an acute perforated ulcer has also been accomplished laparoscopically. In performing laparoscopic surgical procedures for duodenal ulcer disease, the relief of symptoms appears similar to that reported following comparable open procedures but with the advantages of diminished postoperative pain and disability. Moreover, the use of angled endoscopes and the magnification afforded by laparoscopy greatly facilitate the identification and transection of small vagal fibres adjacent to the oesophagus.

This is an overview of the pathophysiological abnormalities of gastroduodenal (GD) ulcers [duodenal ulcer (DU), gastric ulcer (GU) and Dragstedt ulcers (combined DU and GD)], as well as the effects of the different treatments (surgical, medicinal and physiological) described since the introduction of stomach resections. The intention is to demonstrate whether the peptic ulcer diseases are a homogeneous entity with a characteristic pathophysiology or whether they represent the final expression of many heterogeneous causes including impairment of upper gastrointestinal motility. The review also asks whether DU and GU have a common or different pathogenesis and whether ulcers in the stomach might be predominantly due to impaired mucosal resistance and the DU to gastric hypersecretion. The symptoms of both diseases are also compared with the findings in the normal controls.

In six dogs, a selective proximal vagotomy, gastric vagotomy, and truncal vagotomy were performed successively. Basal and postprandial cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations in the peripheral blood were measured by radioimmunoassay. After all the different types of vagotomy, especially after truncal vagotomy, an increased postprandial secretion of CCK was found compared with the healthy animal. Possible causes discussed are the cutting of vagal fibers, which might inhibit the secretion of CCK cells, and the changed gastric and pancreatic secretion.

Between 1973 and 1981, 161 patients with prepyloric, pyloric, or duodenal ulcers were randomly allocated to selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy alone. No significant differences in clinical results were found 3 years after surgery by Emas and Fernstrom (Am J Surg 1985; 149: 236–42). There was one postoperative death, and one patient lost to follow-up. Of 159 patients, 52 underwent selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, 55 selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, and 52 selective proximal vagotomy alone. Fifteen patients did not undergo endoscopy, but they had no epigastric complaints. From 1 to 16 years after surgery, recurrent ulcer was detected in 13%, 18%, and 23%, respectively, after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy without pyloroplasty. Twenty-eight percent of the patients with recurrent ulcer had no symptoms and received no treatment. Sixteen patients died within 8 years after surgery of causes unrelated to the ulcer disease. At their final examination, 14 of the 16 patients had Visick I or II (modified Visick scale) results, and the disease that caused their deaths obscured evaluation in 2 patients. The remaining 143 patients were followed up for 8 to 16 years (average: 12 years). Epigastric pain with or without ulcer was recorded more often (significant) after selective proximal vagotomy alone (40%) than after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty (17%) or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (14%). Bowel habits were unchanged in 96% of patients who underwent selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and 100% of patients who had selective proximal vagotomy alone. Mild dumping tended to be more common after vagotomy with pyloroplasty but was a minor nuisance in only a few patients. Very good or good results (Visick I or II) were recorded in 75% of the patients after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and in 54% after selective proximal vagotomy alone (significant difference). Seventeen patients underwent reoperation with antrectomy and gastrojejunostomy Roux-en-Y (13 patients) or gastroduodenostomy (4 patients) with no mortality. The results of the reoperations were graded as Visick I or II results in all but one patient. The final grading, including the reoperations, were Visick I or II in 85% of patients after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty and selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and in 55% after selective proximal vagotomy alone (significant difference). However, most of the remaining patients with Visick III or IV results needed no treatment (asymptomatic ulcer) or had no symptoms during treatment with antacids or ranitidine. From the overall results after 8 to 16 years of follow-up, we conclude that selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty and selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty are superior to selective proximal vagotomy alone for the treatment of prepyloric-pyloric and duodenal ulcers. Ulcers recurring after selective vagotomy or selective proximal vagotomy have a benign course and respond well to H 2 -receptor antagonist treatment.

If a chronic duodenal ulcer perforates, the choice of operation will depend on the patient's condition. Preoperative shock, concurrent medical diseases, severe generalized peritonitis, or the presence of an intra-abdominal abscess are contraindications to a definitive ulcer operation; hence, simple closure or omental patch closure is performed. Omeprazole can then be used to heal the ulcer in the early postoperative period, with long-term H2-blocker therapy to follow. The patient without a contraindication to a definitive operation should have a proximal gastric vagotomy in addition to an omental patch closure of the perforation. The addition of this procedure does not change the operative mortality rate in properly selected patients, does not cause the gastrointestinal sequelae associated with truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty or resection, and has a low rate of recurrent ulcer in experienced hands. The presence of a synchronous posterior "kissing" duodenal ulcer would prompt some to choose a vagotomy and pyloroplasty in preference to a proximal gastric vagotomy. The appropriate operation to perform after perforation of an acute duodenal ulcer in a patient with any of the contraindications listed above is simple closure or omental patch closure. In the stable nonseptic patient, the choice is not as clear. Boey and associates noted cumulative recurrent ulcer rates of 37% and 31% at 3 years in separate studies in which omental patch closure was used for perforated acute duodenal ulcers. This may reflect the asymptomatic nature of chronic duodenal ulcers in some patients prior to perforation, the failure of the surgeon to recognize the extent of periduodenal scarring at operation, or differences in the length of postperforation follow-up in series reporting perforations of acute or chronic ulcers. Jordan has suggested that all stable patients with perforated duodenal ulcers should undergo a proximal gastric vagotomy in addition to omental patch closure. In his hands, the addition of proximal gastric vagotomy has an operative mortality rate of 0 to 1%, a recurrent ulcer rate of 3% to 5%, and no adverse postoperative sequelae. He has noted that "this operation gives protection from further ulcer disease to those who need it and will produce no harm to the unidentifiable patients that might not have benefited from definitive surgery." Boey and Wong suggested that omental patch closure is indicated for "acute ulcers associated with drug ingestion or acute stress" in addition to those that occur in patients who are considered to be poor risk, while proximal gastric vagotomy should be added in the remaining patients with perforations of acute ulcers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

During the early experience with omeprazole, it was recommended that plasma gastrin levels be monitored to identify patients with 4-5-fold increases above baseline. Such patients were thought to be at an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoid tumours. Studies have established that plasma gastrin levels usually rise 2-4-fold during omeprazole therapy, there being considerable inter- and intra-individual variation. Approximately 3.3% of patients have plasma gastrin levels above 400 pg/ml when treated continuously for 1 year. In clinical practice, it is not cost-effective to screen all patients to detect such a small percentage, particularly given the paucity of realistic treatment options in such patients, and the growing evidence that hypergastrinaemia during omeprazole treatment is of little, if any, clinical significance.

Delayed gastric emptying occurs frequently following Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. The role of vagal denervation in the etiology of this "Roux-stasis syndrome" is controversial. This study evaluates the effect of selective vagotomy on gastric emptying and motility following Roux-en-Y. Four dogs underwent control gastric emptying studies. The animals then underwent selective vagotomy, antrectomy, and Billroth II gastrojejunostomy, with placement of serosal electrodes. Gastric emptying was assessed with simultaneous myoelectric recordings, and the animals were converted to Roux-en-Y, followed by repeat studies. Gastric emptying was unchanged following selective vagotomy, antrectomy, and Billroth II gastrojejunostomy (T 1/2: 132 +/- 18 min [SEM] versus 118 +/- 14 min control) but was markedly delayed following Roux-en-Y diversion (T 1/2: 286 +/- 44 min; p less than 0.01). All animals went into the fed pattern following Billroth II gastrojejunostomy (migrating myoelectric complex [MMC] interval: 326 +/- 6 min postprandial versus 92 +/- 5 min fasting; p less than 0.01), but no fed pattern was recognized in three of four animals following Roux-en-Y diversion (MMC interval: 68 +/- 12 min postprandial versus 62 +/- 1.5 min fasting; p = NS). In a canine model, selective vagotomy does not prevent delayed gastric emptying or myoelectric alterations following Roux-en-Y.

17 patients suffering from axial hiatal hernias with marked duodenogastroesophageal reflux underwent surgical treatment including selective proximal vagotomy combined with formation of closing cardia mechanism, enhancement in are flux function of pylorus, correction of duodenostasis. Specific postoperative complications and lethal outcomes were not observed. Increase of life quality was observed among patients in early and long-term postoperative periods in comparison with preoperative indices. Relapses or regurgitation disturbances were not observed either.

Barrett's oesophagus is a condition when the oesophagus adenocarcinoma risk increases. There are different ways of diagnostic and treatment for this disease abroad and our country. We offer a complex method for Barrett's oesophagus treatment. Our method reveals Barrett's oesophagus effectively. We also take antireflux treatment and Barrett's epithelium elimination using miniinvasive surgery with drugs therapy. We have experience of curing 48 patients from Barrett's oesophagus. Considering obtained results our tactic for clinical practice is recommended.