LAPAROSCOPIC HIGHLY SELECTIVE VAGOTOMY

Laparoscopic highly selective (anterior and posterior) vagotomy was pe rformed in 11 patients for duodenal ulcer (n = 10) and duodenal ulcer with prepyloric ulcer (n = 1), All patients were endoscoped both pre-a nd postoperatively, There were no perioperative complications, The ave rage operating time was 3.2 +/- 0.4 hours and the average hospital sta y was 1.7 +/- 0.2 day (range 1 to 3 days), None of the patients requir ed parenteral narcotics postoperatively. The patients have been follow ed for 6 months to 5 years after operation, Ail ulcers healed as demon strated by endoscopy, There was one recurrence at 9 months in a patien t who had a prepyloric nicer preoperatively, The recurrence was treate d successfully with medication, There has been no other long-term morb idity, Laparoscopic highly selective vagotomy is feasible, safe, requi res a brief hospital stay, and produces short-term results comparable with open surgery.