Does Osmotic Control of Gastric Emptying Persist After Truncal Vagotomy?

Gastric emptying of 5 per cent and 10 per cent glucose test meals has been measured in 43 patients with a duodenal ulcer prior to surgery and in 52 patients with an unsatisfactory result following truncal vagotomy and a drainage procedure. Seventeen patients had a recurrent ulcer and incomplete vagotomy while 35 patients were symptomatic with complete vagotomy. In both the preoperative and postoperative patients the 10 per cent glucose test meal emptied significantly more slowly than the 5 per cent glucose test meal regardless of the completeness of vagotomy. Thus, osmotic control of gastric emptying persists after vagotomy.