Posterior truncal vagotomy and anterior curve superficial seromyotomy as an alternative for the surgical management of chronic ulcer of the duodenum.

In this study, the value of anterior superficial seromyotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy without a supplemental gastric drainage procedure was assessed in patients operated upon for ulcers of the duodenum. The results revealed that this technique is a simple, safe and effective procedure for the management of patients with chronic ulcers of the duodenum. Indeed, it was shown that there was no mortality, a minimum of early morbidity and satisfactory results in terms of the effect on gastric secretory studies and the influence on gastric emptying capacity. Thus, significant reduction on the mean B. A. O. and M. A. O. preoperative values, negative postoperative insulin test results, complete absence of gastric stasis and a mean normal gastric emptying time in isotope gastric emptying studies was demonstrated.