Effective of highly selective vagotomy upon the lower oesophageal sphincter.

Recently highly selective vagotomy has been suggested as both a cause of gastro-oesophageal reflux and a potential cure. This study was designed to investigate whether this operation produced any change in the resting pressure or the length of the lower oesophageal sphincter in patients undergoing highly selective vagotomy. A group of patients undergoing truncal vagotomy and drainage were also studied for comparison. No alteration in the resting pressure or length of the lower oesophageal sphincter was noted after either operation. It is therefore unlikely that interference with the sphincter is responsible for post-vagotomy reflux.