Technique of Antroduodenectomy Without Ulcer Excision as a Safe Alternative Treatment for Bleeding Chronic Duodenal Ulcers

Abstract

To the Editor,In the article by Guinier et al., from France, the authors attribute the ''discovery'' of the antroduodenectomy operation, during which the stomach is anastomosed to the duodenum ''over'' the excluded bleeding duodenal ulcer, to Dubois in 1971 [1]. However, the fact is that exactly the same technique, for the same indication, had been described in 1968 by Dr. Erwin J. Fuerst from the United States [2]. I adopted this technique during the late 1980s [3], and since then it has proved to be an excellent option whenever a lesser, non-resective procedure, is not practical. I thank the authors for reminding the surgical community that the best way to avoid a difficult duodenal stump is to create a duodenogastrostomy. However, they should have acknowledged the earlier contribution of Dr. Fuerst. Yes, there were also a few surgical innovators who were not French.