Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Sutures and Wound Repair/General Surgery ABSA Test. Study using flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel in your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the primary goal of a vagotomy in treating peptic ulcers?

Increase gastric emptying
Decrease gastric acid hypersecretion
Promote mucosal healing
Enhance digestive enzyme production

The correct answer is: Decrease gastric acid hypersecretion

The primary goal of a vagotomy in the treatment of peptic ulcers is to decrease gastric acid hypersecretion. Vagotomy involves cutting certain branches of the vagus nerve, which innervates the stomach and is responsible for stimulating gastric acid secretion. By interrupting the vagus nerve pathways, the procedure effectively reduces the secretion of gastric acid, which is a key factor in the development and persistence of peptic ulcers. Reducing gastric acid levels not only alleviates ulcer-related symptoms but also aids in the healing of existing ulcers. This procedure can be particularly beneficial in situations where the ulcers are recurrent or not responding to medical therapy. While promoting mucosal healing is a secondary benefit of decreasing acid secretion, the immediate aim of vagotomy is focused on mitigating the cause of ulcer formation, namely hypersecretion of gastric acid. The other options, such as enhancing digestive enzyme production or increasing gastric emptying, are not primary objectives of vagotomy but may be affected as a secondary consequence following the procedure.