[Incidence of hospitalizations and operations for ulcer disease 1970-1981]

Since 1970 there has been a slight reduction, since 1977 a marked one, in the number of admissions for peptic ulcer at the two medical and the surgical clinics of the University of Mainz. This trend was interrupted by a peak from 1975-77, due to an increase of overall admissions at that time, after vagotomy procedures had been started at the surgical clinic. The reduction in admissions only related to uncomplicated ulcer and the admissions to the surgical clinic. Admissions for ulcer complications and to the medical clinics remained unchanged. The reduction in the number of operations for uncomplicated duodenal ulcer was 62%, for uncomplicated gastric ulcer 60%. Operative mortality rate for the former was 1.6%, for the latter 1.86%, while it was 10-25% for ulcer complications.