RESUMEN
The association of Helicobacter pylori [Hp] with gastritis and chronic peptic ulceration has been shown. Although there are data on the effects of medical therapy for peptic ulcer on Hp, the fate of this organism after peptic ulcer surgery has not been established. The effects of surgery for chronic duodenal ulcers on Hp was explored. A series of 30 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer [Du] were selected for this study and classified into 3 groups: Group A underwent highly selective vagotomy [18 patients + 60%], group B underwent truncal vagotomy and drainage [9 patients = 30%] and group C underwent a resective procedure [3 patients = 10%]. Endoscopic biopsies were examined preoperatively as well as one month and 6-12 months postoperatively for the presence of Hp and gastritis. Seventeen patients of group A were Hp positive preoperatively [94.4%] and remained positive postoperatively. All ulcers of this group have healed. All 12 patients of groups B and C were Hp positively and became negative postoperatively [100%], while 2 cases of ulcer recurrence were detected in group B. The study suggested that Hp cannot survive in the enterogastric reflux following operations that disrupt or bypass the pyloric sphincter and that Hp infection is not a main cause in ulcer recurrence after surgery while successful control of acid secretion is the corner stone in treatment of Du