Billroth I resection for peptic ulcer.

The Billroth I gastric resection, with and without vagotomy, was used in 20 selected cases of peptic ulcer. Vagotomy and pyloroplasty is considered the operation of first choice for duodenal ulcer. The cases for Billroth I resections were selected from cases not suitable for pyloroplasty. Operations for peptic ulcer which preserve the gastrointestinal continuity are considered to be physiologically superior. Vagotomy and pyloroplasty, and Billroth I gastric resection both qualify in this regard. The postoperative digestive symptoms after Billroth I gastric resection in the present series were minimal, which tends to confirm this theoretical superiority.