Anterior lesser curve seromyotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer.

The value of anterior lesser curve seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy as a simple and safe method of denervating the parietal cell mass without the need for a drainage procedure was assessed in 143 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer at two different centres. There were no early complications directly attributable to the gastric surgery and the operation took less time than truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Postoperative diarrhoea and dumping were not significant difficulties. Basal acid output was reduced by 84.4% and an early positive insulin response within the first three months occurred in 8.75% of patients tested. Satisfactory Visick grades (I and II) were recorded in 93.8% of patients during the early postoperative period.