A randomized prospective trial comparing three established methods of gastric decompression after vagotomy

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Abstract
One hundred and thirty-two patients who were about to undergo vagotomy and drainage were randomly allocated nasogastric tubes, gastrostomy tubes, or no decompression postoperatively. Significantly fewer patients with no decompression developed respiratory infections postoperatively. The role of smoking in the production of post-operative chest complications was again confirmed. Neither the choice of decompression nor its absence appeared to affect postoperative electrolyte control. Postoperative dysphagia was more common in the group with a nasogastric tube. Wound infections were commoner in the gastrostomy group. While most patients with gastrostomies expressed a preference for this type of decompression a proportion of those with nasogastric tubes expressed a preference for a gastrostomy.