Gastric Ulceration: Surgical Considerations

Abstract

Divergent views exist concerning the treatment of chronic gastric ulcer. The author believes operation is the treatment of choice in most cases, as it generally produces prompt relief and eliminates the possibility of undetected carcinoma.

Steps in surgical treatment include determination of the necessity of preoperative preparation; general abdominal exploration, including examination of the liver, pancreas, spleen and other organs; and accurate differential diagnosis of the gastric lesion. The type of operative procedure used depends on whether the lesion is benign or malignant.