The effect of a segmental gastrectomy with proximal gastric vagotomy on gastric secretion and gastric emptying

Gastric acid secretory responses to graded doses of pentagastrin were measured in duodenal ulcer patients before and after either proximal gastric vagotomy (17 patients) or proximal gastric vagotomy associated with a segmental gastrectomy (11 patients). Calculated maximal output of acid and responsiveness of the acid‐secreting cells to pentagastrin were reduced by both operations; after surgery, maximal acid output was lower in the proximal gastric vagotomy plus segmental gastrectomy group than in the proximal gastric vagotomy group. Gastric emptying of a liquid meal was assessed before and after either proximal vagotomy (13 patients) or proximal gastric vagotomy plus segmental gastrectomy (9 patients). The early phase of emptying was equally accelerated by both operations, and at later stages the emptying was only slightly, but not significantly, faster following proximal gastric vagotomy associated with segmental gastrectomy.