Highly selective vagotomy and pyloric dilatation for duodenal ulcer with stenosis

This paper presents the results obtained in 15 patients with duodenal ulcer and stenosis who were treated more than 3 years ago by highly selective vagotomy (HSV) and dilatation of the stenosis without a gastric drainage procedure. Patients were taking solid food 3--6 days postoperatively and were discharged after 7--14 days. There have been no recurrent stenoses. Fourteen of the 15 patients were Visick grade 1 or 2 at their last visit. One patient has a recurrent ulcer, but no restenosis. Barium meals performed on 6 patients with severe stenosis preoperatively showed satisfactory gastric emptying 1--3 years postoperatively. HSV and pyloric dilatation seems to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of pyloric stenosis due to chronic duodenal ulceration.