[Current status of therapy for gastroduodenal ulcer]

Over the last 25 years there has been a considerable decrease in the prevalence of peptic ulcer worldwide. Since the introduction of potent anti-ulcer drugs the number of elective operations for peptic ulcer (PU) has decreased considerably, whereas the number of emergency operations has remained largely unchanged. The current incidence of PU perforation is 4-10 per 100,000 population. Perforation accounts for 40-50% of emergency operations for PU. Currently one third to over one half of patients presenting with PU perforation are aged over 65, with an increasing percentage of female patients and gastric ulcer perforations. There appears to be a correlation between PU perforation and ingestion of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), especially in women over the age of 65. About 50% of patients presenting with perforation of PU do not report a previous history of ulcer dyspepsia or treatment with anti-ulcer drugs. Many authors think the lack of a PU history reported by many patients is unreliable and may lead to erroneous conclusions in about half of patients. Mortality of PU perforation is currently 10-20% in most series, with a higher mortality of 10-40% for perforated gastric ulcer (GU) compared to duodenal ulcer (DU), for which mortality rates of 0-10% are currently reported. A number of centers report an increase in PU perforation mortality: this is due to an increased number of elderly patients in whom ulcer perforation mortality is enhanced by preexistent or concomitant diseases of other organs and systems. In the treatment of PU perforation the discussion centers around the choice between simple closure of the perforation and definitive ulcer surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)