RESECTION OF THE VAGUS NERVES IN PEPTIC ULCER

Abstract

Perusal of the rapidly growing literature on the application of resection of the vagus nerves to the treatment of peptic ulcer makes it clear that there exist four central questions to which early answers should be obtained in order that surgeons and physicians may tentatively evaluate this surgical operation.¹ The added reservation must be made that any treatment for peptic ulcer is not put to its final clinical test until fifteen to twenty-five years have passed; short of this ultimate ideal, everything possible should be done to arrive at an early estimate of the usefulness of this new procedure. These four questions may be stated as follows: Are patients with peptic ulcer clinically benefited by this operation and, if so, what are the indications, contraindications and clinical side effects? What demonstrable physiologic changes are produced in the gastrointestinal tract by resection of the vagus nerves? How