CHRONIC DUODENAL-ULCER IN CHILDREN AND RESPONSE TO HIGHLY SELECTIVE VAGOTOMY

The effectiveness of highly selective vagotomy (HSV) in adult duodenal ulcer surgery is confirmed by absence of peroperative mortality or postoperative morbidity and by ulcer healing in the majority of cases. Whether it could be used in children with the same result was the subject of our study in 13 successive cases of complicated duodenal ulcer treated between 1974 and 1987. There was complete ulcer healing in 4 cases. Pain relapsed in 5 cases and there was recurrence of hemorrhage in 2 cases. Although immediate good results lasted for at least 3 years, 2 patients were lost to follow-up. Still, we consider HSV as a safe procedure available for children as it does not "queer the pitch" for a subsequent treatment if it fails.