Selective gastric vagotomy technic and primary results

A technically simple method for performing gastric vagotomy is described. The principle is to omit free dissection of the individual nerve fibers and, instead, to divide the lesser omentum transversely from a point opposite the angular notch in toward the lesser curvature and, then, working from below upward, to dissect the lesser omentum free from the lesser curvature of the stomach and from the distal 4 cm. of the esophagus. A total of 74 patients has been operated on. An insulin test was carried out in 61; this was negative in 54 cases, early positive in 1, and late positive in 6.