[Peptic ulcer with a visible non-bleeding vascular wall--early elective surgery or endoscopic therapy?]

The records of 71 patients with the endoscopic finding of a peptic ulcer with a non-bleeding visible vessel, treated between 1982 and 1987 were retrospectively analysed. 16 patients underwent early surgical treatment (group I), 15 patients were treated conservatively (group II) and 40 patients by endoscopic haemostasis (group III). Recurrent bleeding was observed in 6.25% patients in group I, in 53.3% in group II and in 25% in group III, in which case endoscopy was performed again. The patients with arterial bleeding underwent early elective operation after endoscopic haemostasis. Deaths occurred only in the postoperative period: group I 6.25%, group II 13%, and group III 5%. These findings indicate that primary endoscopic treatment in selected patients leads to results equal to those achieved with early surgery. Conservative therapy cannot, however, be recommended.