An evaluation and comparison of the early and late results of standardized Polya gastrectomy.

EDITORIAL COMMENT This is a late follow up of an important series of gastrectomies carried out in the London area. It is to be noted that in all the cases the main branch of the left gastric artery was tied which would probably mean an incidental division of the coeliac branch of the posterior vagus nerve. The results give an interesting standard against which to judge the vagotomy and selective vagotomy operations. In making such comparisons it must be borne in mind that the operative mortality recorded for gastrectomy is considerably below the average throughout the country.