[Bleeding complication in chronic stomach and duodenal ulcer--plea for resection in emergencies and in the elderly].

The bleeding complications of gastric- and duodenal ulcers have not declined in the past 20 years. This is the leading factor for the unchanged lethality of this disease. We present our results in 31 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding. The mean age was 72, 1 years and the majority of patients had an advanced stage of ulcer disease with penetration in neighbouring organs. 8 of 31 patients had to be operated under emergency conditions within 6 h. 23 patients with high risk for re-bleeding were operated early elective (12-36 h); 11 of those were in a severe shock at the beginning of the operation. After control of bleeding by intra-and extraluminar ligature all patients underwent a primary resection (B I, B II or cardiofundectomy). The lethality was 12.9% (4/31), there was no re-bleeding. With the exception of one late duodenal insufficiency none patient had to be re-operated.