ANTERIOR LESSER CURVE SEROMYOTOMY WITH POSTERIOR TRUNCAL VAGOTOMY VERSUS PROXIMAL GASTRIC-VAGOTOMY - RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL 3-8 YEARS AFTER SURGERY

In a prospective randomized trial, anterior lesser curve seromytomy wi th posterior truncal vagotomy (ASPTV, n = 50) was compared with proxim al gastric vagotomy (PGV, n = 50). Most of our patients were young men with ASA grade I risk, and 80% were expatriates. They were followed u p for 3 to 8 years after surgery. The mean reductions of basal acid ou tput (BAG) and insulin-stimulated peak acid output (IPAO) were 85% and 88%, respectively, soon after surgery for both ASPTV and PGV groups. These values remained at 70% and 60% of their preoperative level for 1 year. Good to excellent results (Visick I and II) were recorded in 76 % of cases in both groups. The recurrent ulcer rate was 14% for PGV an d 12% for ASPTV. This trial suggests that for the treatment of duodena l ulcer ASPTV is as good an operation as PGV.