[Round table discussion. Ulcer - vagus - gastrin].
1. Both gastrin and the vagus nerve play a part in the pathogenesis of the duodenal ulcer. Which of these two factors is of greater significance--this problem is still subject to discussion as is the question whether other factors such as duodenal neutralization are more important than hitherto assumed. 2. At this time no reliable and harmless drugs that speed up the healing of duodenal ulcers and prevent relapses are yet available. Candidates for this are H2 receptor blockers, prostaglandines and possibly substances resembling secretin. 3. Only some of the participants considered it necessary to do endoscopic and radiological follow-ups in duodenal ulcers. 4. Proximal gastric vagotomy for the treatment of duodenal ulcers is still undergoing clinical trials. At present this method should only be used by surgeons with a special interest in gastric surgery who also dispose of the technology and the staff for careful postoperative checks on these patients. The advantages of proximal gastric vagotomy consist in sparing truncation, low mortality and good functional results. 5. In gastric ulcers--contrary to duodenal ones--malignancy should always be suspected. If medical treatment does not lead to complete remission within a few months, surgery must be performed. 6. Many surgeons still prefer resection to vagotomy and excision in the management of gastric ulcers.
[Round table discussion. Ulcer - vagus - gastrin]. 1. Both gastrin and the vagus nerve play a part in the pathogenesis of the duodenal ulcer. Which of these two factors is of greater significance--this problem is still subject to discussion as is the question whether other factors such as duodenal neutralization are more important than hitherto assumed. 2. At this time no reliable and harmless drugs that speed up the healing of duodenal ulcers and prevent relapses are yet available. Candidates for this are H2 receptor blockers, prostaglandines and possibly substances resembling secretin. 3. Only some of the participants considered it necessary to do endoscopic and radiological follow-ups in duodenal ulcers. 4. Proximal gastric vagotomy for the treatment of duodenal ulcers is still undergoing clinical trials. At present this method should only be used by surgeons with a special interest in gastric surgery who also dispose of the technology and the staff for careful postoperative checks on these patients. The advantages of proximal gastric vagotomy consist in sparing truncation, low mortality and good functional results. 5. In gastric ulcers--contrary to duodenal ones--malignancy should always be suspected. If medical treatment does not lead to complete remission within a few months, surgery must be performed. 6. Many surgeons still prefer resection to vagotomy and excision in the management of gastric ulcers.