Interpretation of Postvagotomy Endoscopic Congo Red Test Results in Relation to Ulcer Recurrence 5 to 12 Years after Operation

Background: The aim of the present study was to estimate, after vagotomy, the location and extension of residual vagal innervation of the gastric corpus mucosa by using the endoscopic Congo red test (ECRT) and its relation to recurrent ulcer (RU), as well as the results of quantitative gastric acid tests: basal acid output (BAO), maximal acid output (MAO), and nocturnal acid output (NAO). Methods: A total of 271 consecutive vagotomized duodenal ulcer (DU) patients were studied 5 to 12 years (mean 8 years) after the operation. In all cases gastroscopy and ECRT were performed simultaneously. ECRT was considered positive if a red to black-blue (pH 3.0) were attributed to negative ECRT. BAO, MAO, and NAO were determined preoperatively and postoperatively in 108 cases out of 271 and correspond with ECRT results. Results: Recurrent ulcer occurred in 18 out of 135 ECRT-positive and in 1 out of 136 ECRT-negative cases. RU occurred 5 times more frequently in LE than SE cases ( P