Billroth I versus Billroth II partial gastrectomy in the treatment of gastric ulcer

Short- and long-term results of B-I and B-II reconstructions were compared in order to assess which anastomosis is to be recommended after partial gastrectomy for partial ulcer. All the patients (287) electively operated for gastric ulcer 10-20 years ago were considered for the study. Operative mortality did not significantly differ, while duration of post-operative time before discharge and post-operative morbidity were significantly lower after B-I. Long-term percentage probability of survival was higher after B-I than after B-II (87.0 and 63.7 after 19 years, respectively), while quality of life was similar in the two groups. In the 64 subjects (26 B-I and 38 B-II) who underwent the study protocol, fasting bile reflux appeared more abundant and bile acid concentration greater after B-II than after B-I. While bacteria and nitrite concentrations did not differ in the two groups, bile acid pattern differed in a greater deoxycholic acid percentage concentration in the B-II group. In spite of an increased deoxycholic acid concentration and therefore a probably more lithogenic bile, gallstones were shown in 23.11% and 39.41% of the B-I and the B-II subjects, respectively, without significant differences. In conclusion, when partial gastrectomy is indicated for gastric ulcer, B-I reconstruction seems preferable to B-II because of its lower post-operative morbidity, less evident entero-gastric reflux and histological consequences, less evident bile acid pattern changes from normal, and an apparently longer life-expectancy after discharge.