GASTRODUODENAL ULCER - SURGICAL OR CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT

We investigated the admission rate of gastroduodenal ulcer patients in the First surgical clinic of AHEPA Hospital of Thessaloniki over the years 1970-1990. Data regarding patient demographics, complications and outcome were recorded out of 951 case files with no differences in sex ratio and age distribution over the examined period. Admission rate decreased steadily and significantly, whereas the percentage of patients operated upon for duodenal ulcer related complications was relatively constant over the corresponding intervals. Ulcus operations related with complications indicate an absolute decrease of cases resistant to conservative therapy. This effect was not evident in the case of ulcer perforation, a fact which should be examined furthermore.