Selective Vagotomy and Drainage in Surgery for Massive Gastroduodenal Bleeding

Abstract

Over the period 1966 to 1968 inclusive, 87 patients were operated on for massively bleeding ulcer, with a mortality of 14%. During the years 1960 to 1965, the same department had a mortality of 30 % in a corresponding patient group. In suitable patients, vagotomy and drainage with suture ligation of massively bleeding duodenal ulcer was associated with a low mortality. In such cases the vagotomy may be done selectively just as well as by transection of the vagal trunks. The size of the ulcer and the severity of the ulcerative changes are factors disadvantageous to, or contraindicating the choice of, this type of operation. Resection remains the procedure of choice in cases in which pyloroplasty is difficult to perform.

Key-words:

• Duodenum
• hemorrhage
• gastrointestinal
• stomach
• vagotomy