THE CENTRAL Surgical Association's invitation to participate in this symposium on vagotomy as a method of treating peptic ulcer is welcome. Dr. Dragstedt and his associates1 have revived interest in the clinical and physiologic effects of vagotomy and have made observations that clarify many aspects of the problem of peptic ulcer. Our studies were encouraged by him. Preliminary impressions of clinical effects and summaries of roentgenologic, physiologic, and chemical studies have been presented.2 Detailed reports will be published by individuals of the group, and the subject for this symposium will be only a brief clinical summary. No attempt will be made to review the literature or the recent excellent studies by Moore and his associates,3 Machella, Hodges and Lorber,4 and others.
Fifty-seven patients with refractory or frequently recurring peptic ulcer were treated by transthoracic vagotomy or transthoracic vagotomy and gastroenterostomy from July 1944 through September