The effect of vagotomy and drainage operations on the rate of gastric emptying in duodenal ulcer patients

Abstract

Abstract The rate of gastric emptying was estimated in 29 patients with duodenal ulcers, before and after vagotomy and drainage operations, by measuring the disappearance from the stomach of a standard meal containing radioactive chromium. When Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty accompanied vagotomy gastric emptying was observed to be slowed, whereas after vagotomy and Fitmey pyloroplasty the rate of gastric emptying was more rapid when compared with the preoperative rate. Gastric emptying after vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy showed no consistent alteration in rate. Temporary gastric stasis occurred in the early postoperative period after vagotomy and drainage procedures.