Major Surgical Procedures. There are a number of surgical procedures aimed at long-term relief of ulcer complications.
Click the icon to see an illustrated series detailing a gastrectomy procedure.
Vagotomy cuts the vagus nerve and interrupts messages from the brain that stimulate acid secretion in the stomach. This surgery may impair stomach emptying; a recent variation that cuts only parts of the nerve may reduce this complication.
Antrectomy removes the lower part of the stomach, which manufactures the hormone responsible for stimulation of digestive juices.
Pyloroplasty enlarges the opening into the small intestine so that stomach contents can pass into it more easily.
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