[Current trends in the therapy of bleeding duodenal ulcer]

A distinction is drawn between two main groups of patients with continuous and massive haemorrhage respectively in bleeding duodenal ulcer, and the criteria upon which this distinction is based are described. The two main types of surgery proposed for the treatment of this complication of duodenal ulcer (vagotomy and gastric resection) are examined. The conclusion is drawn that vagotomy (truncular with drainage, or superselective with or without drainage) is to be preferred to gastric resection in the light of personal experience, and with particular reference to operative mortality and the recurrence of haemorrhage and ulcers.