Bleeding duodenal ulcer: Reduction in mortality with a planned approach

In a 6-year prospective study from 1972 to 1978 266 patients were admitted to a haematemesis and melaena unit with bleeding duodenal ulcer. There were 13 deaths, a mortality of 5 per cent. A comparison between the three consecutive 2-year periods of study showed an initial mortality of 6 per cent for the first 4 years falling to 2 per cent for the 93 admissions during the final 2 years of experience. Of the 120 patients treated surgically, 10 died in hospital, giving an operative mortality of 8 per cent. The trend in operative mortality was from 13 per cent for the initial 2-year period to 8 per cent for the second period and to 3 per cent for the final 2 years. The operative rate was consecutively 45, 50 and 34 per cent. There was 1 death in conservatively treated patients during each 2-year period of study. Three types of operation were performed: vagotomy, pyloroplasty and oversewing of the ulcer; Polya gastrectomy; and vagotomy and antrectomy. There was no difference in morbidity and mortality between these operations. At a mean follow-up of 3.1 years, 90 per cent of the patients had a good result from their operation. It is concluded that a prospective system of management with an active policy of early endoscopy, surgery and regular audit reduces the mortality from bleeding duodenal ulcer.