[Endoscopic emergency therapy and early elective operation of at risk bleeding types in gastroduodenal ulcer...

253 consecutive patients with bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers were treated in a prospective protocol from Jan/1986 to Dec/1993. All underwent emergency endoscopy and injection therapy. In ulcers with a high risk of rebleeding (Forrest Ia, Ib, and IIvisible vessel) we performed an early elective operation (n = 126). Operative mortality was 9% (11/126). No patient died after endoscopic treatment, therefore the over-all mortality was 4% (11/253).