[Indications and choice of surgical procedure in bleeding gastroduodenal ulcer]

Lethality of bleeding peptic ulcer has been reduced to about 15 per cent in recent years by therapeutic endoscopy in combination with differentiated surgical tactics. Intensity and activity of bleeding as well as additional criteria, such as localisation, recurrence of bleeding, and age of the patient, are some of the parameters for surgical indication which are used in decision-making, with due consideration of the spontaneous course. Endoscopic haemostasis should be intensively used to avoid emergency operations and action of early recurrence. Selective early surgery should be performed whenever possible. Surgical techniques should be chosen with two objectives in mind, localised haemostasis and definitive ulcer treatment. Extraluminal and intraluminal ligation and additional vagotomy should be the optional approach to bleeding peptic ulcer. Billroth's I operation should be applied to ventricular ulcer.