Effect of Vagotomy and Pyloroplasty: The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Fourteen patients undergoing vagotomy and pyloroplasty for duodenal ulcer disease were studied with oral glucose tolerance tests before and 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. Although none had a history of diabetes or glycosuria, 6 were chemically diabetic preoperatively. Results showed that glucose levels were higher postoperatively than preoperatively at 30 and 60 min after glucose ingestion. Glucose levels at 120 min, however, were significantly lower than those preoperatively: Five diabetics with elevated 2-hr glucose values preoperatively had normal 2-hr values postoperatively. The data suggested that the 2-hr value in the oral glucose tolerance test after vagotomy and pyloroplasty will underdiagnose the diabetic state.