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Gastro‐oesophageal reflux and oesophagitis before and after vagotomy for duodenal ulcer

Fifty patients undergoing elective vagotomy for the treatment of chronic duodenal ulceration have been investigated pre‐operatively and again 3 months postoperatively to determine the extent and severity of associated gastro‐oesophageal reflux. Pre‐operatively all patients had a normal lower oesophageal sphincter pressure but 50 per cent had symptoms of gastro‐oesophagel reflux, 42 per cent had excessive reflux on 24 h pH monitoring and 30 per cent had oesophagitis on endoscopy and/or oesophageal biopsy. Postoperatively, reflux symptoms were present in only 12 per cent of patients but pH studies were still abnormal in 36 per cent and oesophagitis was observed in 32 per cent. Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure was unaffected by vagotomy. Gastro‐oesopheageal reflux is common in pre‐operative duodenal ulcer patients and is not significantly reduced by vagotomy. Careful pre‐operative oesophageal assessment is necessary to determine which duodenal ulcer patients require an anti‐reflux procedure in addition to vagotomy.