[Early and late results following simple suturing of the perforated stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer].

Between 1968 and 1983, 1077 patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer underwent surgery in our department. 207 patients presented with perforation of the ulcer, which in all cases was closed by oversewing . They comprised 137 men and 70 females with a mean age of 55.7 years. 26.1% of the patients were aged over 71 years. Postoperative mortality was 15.9%. The prognosis was mainly influenced by age, time interval between perforation and surgery, and--probably--duration of ulcer disease. Follow-up (at least 3 years after surgery) demonstrated no symptoms of ulcer disease in 58.2%. In 21.9% a second and definitive operation had been performed in patients with persistent symptoms or complications of the ulcer.