Abstract
Operatated cases for peptic ulcer experienced at our department in a recent one decade until 1989 were subjected to a study of their changes. Subjects were 170 cases, comprising of 117 (68.8%) of gastric ulcer, 45 (26.5%) of duodenal ulcer, and 8 (4.7%) of both ulcers. When all subjects were divided into the first 5 years and the latter 5 years, there was no significant change in the incidence by diseases between both periods, but total number of operated cases decreased to 67 cases in the latter period from 103 cases in the first period (by 35.0%), with an abrupt decrease in numbers of intractable cases (p<0.01). On the contrary, bleeding or perforating cases increased (p<0.01-0.05). Emergency operation cases increased in its rate as well as number in the latter period (p<0.01), especially for gastric ulcers. As a probable factor for this increase in emergency operations, an increasing tendency of primary occurrence of ulcers as well as aging of the patients is indicated. In the latter 5 years, a prolongation of disease-period can be observed. From the above, careful observation of the clinical course entertaining surgical treatment would be necessary, especially for primary peptic ulcers developed in relatively aged patients.
