Impact of nonresective operations for complicated peptic ulcer disease in a high-risk population

Over the past two decades, surgery for complicated peptic ulcer disease has evolved to a "less-is-more" approach due predominately to improved medical therapy. This study sought to determine whether a nonresective operative strategy has been an effective and prudent approach. A 20-year retrospective evaluation was conducted to compare outcomes of patients from the first decade (1990-1999) with those from the more recent decade (2000-2009). In all, 50 patients underwent surgery for complications of peptic ulcer disease, 36 in the early period and 14 in the later period, with 94 per cent being urgent or emergent. Acid-reducing procedures (vagotomy) decreased significantly from 29 to 7 over the two periods (P = 0.04), as did gastric resections from 23 to 3 (P = 0.01). The prevalence of H. pylori and use of NSAIDs both increased from 28 per cent to 36 per cent and 31 per cent to 43 per cent, respectively. Postoperative mortality remained unchanged, 22 per cent vs. 7 per cent (P = 0.41) over the two periods. Resections and definitive acid-reducing procedures continue to decline with no increase in adverse outcomes. This more moderate operative approach to complicated peptic ulcer surgery is appropriate given the trend towards lower mortality and improved medical treatment. In our high-risk veteran population, overall perioperative mortality, length of stay, and reoperations have been reduced.