[Prognostic criteria for ulcer closure (author's transl)]

A retrospective study was made based on 243 patients with simple closure of a perforated peptic ulcer in order to analyse factors influencing the results. Complications and mortality showed a good correlation with age, time between onset of symptoms and operation and size of the perforation, but no correlation with ulcer localization and history. Between 1 and 15 years after the operation, 39,4% of the patients were asymptomatic, 34,8% under conservative treatment, whilst 25,8% had to be reoperated on in the meantime. There was no correlation between recurrence and the age of the patients, the time between onset of symptoms and operation, the duration of stay in hospital, inability to work, alcohol and nicotine abuse. Ulcer history was the only factor influencing the late result significantly. Only 11% of patients with a short ulcer history (no longer than 6 months) had to be reoperated on whereas in those with a long ulcer history a recurrence rate of 70% can be expected. The importance of ulcer history for the choice of surgical treatment is emphasized.