[Gastroduodenal ulcer--changes in surgical therapy by long-term drug treatment]

Routine use of H2 receptor blockers has helped to reduce the rate of selective vagotomies and has brought down the range of surgical ulcer patients. For peptic ulcer therapeutic medication has proved to be superior to surgery. Various studies were evaluated and have brought into focus questions of decision-making between medicamentous and surgical treatment of ulcer. Therapeutic approaches are recommended for emergency treatment of bleeding duodenal ulcer and recurrent ulcer.