Clinical Evaluation of Gastric Freezing for Duodenal Ulcer

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Abstract
In a study testing the value of gastric freezing to control duodenal ulcer, about 70% of patients were palliated for short periods by a single freeze. Symptoms have recurred, however, in a progressively large percentage of patients evaluated at six weeks to nine months postfreeze. Of those who accepted a second freeze, nearly one half had return of symptoms in 6 to 12 weeks after refreeze. Acid peptic secretion was decreased for a few weeks only. No correlation was found between return of symptoms and level of acid peptic secretion. Occasional patients, without symptoms, harbored newly formed craters after freezing, thus demonstrating a danger inherent in "pain" control without persistent reduction in acid peptic secretion. Psychological reinforcement inherent in the treatment makes objective evaluation difficult.

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