OBJECTIVETo study the long-term results of extended parietal cell vagotomy (EPCV) in the treatment of patients with duodenal ulcer and their complications.

METHODSForm 1979 to 2001, EPCV was performed in 321 patients with duodenal ulcer and their complications. Of these patients 56 had chronic duodenal ulcer, 204 perforation, 16 hemorrhage and 40 stenosis. The following items were evaluated: complications of operation, gastric secretion, gastric emptying, endoscopical and radiographical findings, nutritional status, absorption function, and Visick scale.

RESULTSPostoperative follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 22.0 years (mean 11.3 years) in 289 of the 321 patients with a follow-up rate of 90.0%. Neither operative mortality nor dumping syndrome was noted. Episodic postprandial fullness occurred in 19 patients (6.5%), acid regurgitation in 17 (5.8%) and adhesive ileus in 4 (1.4%). Ulceration recurred in 16 patients (5.5%). Duodenal ulcer was seen in 8 patients (19.5%), hemorrhage in 0 (0%), stenosis in 2 (5.3%), and perforation in 6 (3.1%). Ulcers healed rapidly after medical therapy in 10 patients. Six patients received antrectomy and gastrectomy. In 289 (91.7%) patients of Grade I and II of Visick scale, 191 (95.3%) had perforation.

CONCLUSIONSEPCV is easy to perform with a low rate of post operative complication and ulcer recurrence. It should be a treatment of choice for acute perforation, hemorrhage or stenosis due to duodenal ulcer.