[The role of gastrectomy in the treatment of hemorrhaging stomach ulcers].

It is reported about 6 patients whose bleeding gastric ulcers required gastrectomy as ultima ratio. The operative technique depends on the individual case. Gastrectomy is indicated in patients with diffuse bleeding from erosions or multiple ulcers especially combined to coagulation disorders or in patients with recurrence bleeding after previous gastric resection. We saw no letal complication in spite of unfavourable initial conditions and major operating trauma. There were no essential postoperative complications except of one patient. The definite hemostasis seems to be most important for the prognosis of such critically ill patients.