title: Postoperative recurrent peptic ulcer: the significance of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
abstract: Twenty-four patients with postoperative recurrent peptic ulcer, presenting to a teaching hospital over a six-year period, are reviewed. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopy or surgery in all cases. Four patients (16-7%) were shown to have the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and were treated successfully by total gastrectomy. This is a significantly higher incidence of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome than in previous reports. Six patients were treated medically, with one death. In the remainder, an inadequate initial operation was considered to be the cause of recurrence. Reoperation, usually involving complete vagotomy and antrectomy, was performed. There was no mortality in this group, and no patients have had further recurrence. The importance of serum gastrin studies in all patients with recurrent peptic ulcer is emphasized.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins