Highly selective vagotomy and duodenal ulcer that fail to respond to H2 receptor antagonists

ABSTRACT

100 patients [80 males and 20 females] during a 4 year study period underwent hihgly selective vagotomy for uncomplicated duodenal ulcer. The study included 33 patients whose ulcers had not responded to the receptor blockers, 12 patients suffered recurrent ulceration while receiving H2 receptor antagonist maintenance therapy. 42 patients whose ulcers had healed with H2 blockers but who had relapses after cessation of the therapy, and 13 patients who had never been treated with H2 receptor antagonist therapy Our results showed that the highest rate of recurrence was seen in the group whose ulcers were refractory to H2 receptor antagonists. This may indicate that duodenal ulcer failing to respond to H2 receptor antagonists represent a more severe ulcer diathesis for which highly selective vagotomy is less effective