What is vagotomy used to treat?

Vagotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting the vagus nerve, often used to reduce acid secretion in the stomach. It is primarily utilized in the treatment of gastric ulcers, especially when these ulcers are recurrent or have not responded to other treatments. By disrupting the vagus nerve's influence, vagotomy can lead to decreased gastric acid production and promote healing of the ulcer.

While it might seem relevant to consider other conditions like duodenal ulcers or acid reflux, vagotomy is specifically more targeted toward managing gastric ulcers, where the reduction in acidic environment is beneficial for healing. Pancreatic cancer, on the other hand, typically requires different treatment approaches, focusing on oncological interventions rather than nerve resection. The main goal of vagotomy is to treat conditions resultant from excessive acid secretion, which aligns with the treatment of gastric ulcers.