[Duodenal ulcers. Vagotomy-antrectomy or vagotomy-pyloroplasty. Comparison after ten years (author's transl)].

Follow-up results of two series of patients, one group of 50 vagotomy-antrectomies and another of 100 vagotomy-pyloroplastie, were compared after an average of 2,5, and 10 years. Nutrition, the capacity for work, and resistance to fatigue were better after pyloroplasty. After antrectomy there is a progressive decrease in nutrition, body weight varying by 2.730 kg. Digestive discomfort occurs after pyloroplasty, however, and does not improve with time : about half of the patients complain of post-prandial heaviness. Anastomotic ulcers are observed in 6 p. cent of patients after pyloroplasty, and 4 p. cent after antrectomy. Relapses after pytoroplasty occur at an early stage and are mainly due to failure of the vagotomy ; in this series their level remained stable. Phytobezoar is an elective complication of pyloroplasty and was noted in 4 p. cent of cases. The need for repeat operations (4 p. cent of cases) was identical in both groups.