ULCER RECURRENCE 2 TO 12 YEARS AFTER PARIETAL-CELL VAGOTOMY FOR DUODENAL-ULCER

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 94  (5) , 802-806
Abstract
An analysis is presented of the ulcer recurrence rate following parietal cell vagotomy in 333 patients with duodenal ulcer. The median period of observation for patients without ulcer recurrence was 54 mo. (range 1-128 mo.). Forty-two patients developed proven recurrent ulcer. The median period of freedom from recurrence was 33 mo. (range 3-113 mo.). Recurrent ulcer was suspected but not verified in an additional 12 patients. The calculated risk (by the life table method) of recurrence after 5 yr was 13% (95% confidence limits 9-17), after 8 yr 21% (14-28) and after 10 yr 23% (15-31). The rate of recurrence remained constant throughout the study period. The analysis indicates a constant monthly recurrence risk of 0.23%. The patients with ulcer recurrence had a significantly lower reduction of peak pentapeptide acid output and higher rate of positive insulin test than patients without recurrence. The risk of recurrence did not depend on the location of the ulcer (duodenal bulb or pyloric-prepyloric area).