The Short-Term Stability of the Insulin Test Result after Truncal and Selective Vagotomy for Duodenal Ulcer

Abstract

Insulin tests 10 days and 3 months after vagotomy in 47 patients were compared in order to explain the increase of insulin-activated gastric hydrochloric acid secretion, demonstrated 3 to 4 years after truncal vagotomy and drainage. The acid secretions after truncal or selective vagotomy and pyloroplasty did not differ at the early and 3 months' tests, and neuropraxia is therefore an unlikely explanation of the later increase. After highly selective vagotomy increased secretion was recorded, and neuropraxia could not be excluded after this operation.

Key-words:

• Duodenal ulcer
• gastric acid secretion
• insulin test
• neuropraxia
• stability of acid secretion response