Vagotomy or gastrectomy for elective treatment of benign gastric ulceration?

The results of elective gastrectomy and vagotomy with drainage for benign gastric ulcer are described in terms of operative mortality, recurrent ulceration, overall clinical results, and risk of malignancy. Although it has a slightly lower operative morbidity and mortality, the results of vagotomy with drainage are not sufficiently superior to abandon gastrectomy. Highly selective vagotomy, without drainage, provides good overall clinical results but has a high associated incidence of recurrent ulceration. Neither gastrectomy nor vagotomy with drainage have a distinct advantage in patients with combined gastroduodenal or prepyloric ulceration.