vagotomy /vāgot″əmē/ [L, vagus, wandering, temnein, to cut] , the cutting of certain branches of the vagus nerve, performed with gastric surgery, to reduce the amount of gastric acid secreted and lessen the chance of recurrence of a gastric ulcer. With the patient under general anesthesia, a gastrectomy is performed, and the appropriate branches of the vagus nerve are excised. Because peristalsis will be diminished, a pyloroplasty or an anastomosis of the stomach to the jejunum may be done to ensure proper emptying of the stomach. See also anastomosis, gastrectomy, peptic ulcer, pyloroplasty, vagus nerve.
