[Postoperative recurrent gastroduodenal ulcer: pathogenesis--reinterventions--results].

High 10-year recurrence rates following proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) for pyloric/prepyloric ulcer (31.6%, European trial) result from antral stasis (Dragstedt-mechanism). Additional pyloroplasty reduces the recurrence rate to 16.6%. General causes of recurrence following PGV are primarily incomplete vagotomy and smoking: For incomplete vagotomy (Burge-test) 24.4% recurrences, for complete vagotomy 13.6% (10-year results); in smokers 38%, non-smokers 12%. Therapy is conservative in 80%. Selective gastric revagotomy and antrectomy as reoperation shows lowest recurrence rate (1.2%). The major cause of recurrence after partial gastrectomy is inadequate resection. Conservative therapy is successful in 76%. Reoperation should be transthoracic vagotomy with no mortality in 11 centers.