Achieving "Physiological Gastrectomy" by Gastric Freezing

Abstract

Short periods of gastric freezing are well tolerated by dog and man. Results in both canine and human subjects, with the inflowing coolant at temperatures of —17° to —20° C. (1.4° to —4.0° F.), have been very satisfying. Isolated gastric pouches, whether Pavlov, Heidenhain, or antral, when frozen for an hour, become unresponsive to physiological stimuli. Gastric freezing is followed by alterations in the secretory responses of the stomach which justify the description "physiological gastrectomy." The stomachs of 24 patients having duodenal ulcer have been frozen with subjective relief of symptoms, disappearance of duodenal ulcer craters, and significant decreases in gastric secretory responses.