Gastric secretory response to insulin infusion in vagotomized subjects

Abstract

Abstract The results of the insulin-infusion test carried out after vagotomy in 50 patients are presented. In 25 cases a comparison was made between the insulin-infusion test and the conventional Hollander test. A good correlation was observed between the peak acid output induced by insulin infusion and that noted during the Hollander test. It is concluded that with the present criteria for interpretation the insulin-infusion test may be no better than the Hollander technique for defining patients at risk of recurrent dyspepsia. However, the small amounts of insulin used, the gradual lowering of blood-glucose, and the reduced incidence of profound hypoglycaemia which attend the insulin-infusion test suggest that this technique should be adopted for the assessment of vagotomy in preference to the potentially dangerous Hollander test.