Gastroduodenal haemorrhage

Abstract

Before the First World War the treatment of gastroduodenal haemorrhage was predominantly medical, though the results, especially with recurrent haemorrhage, were far less satisfactory than was claimed by some physicians. It was not until Finsterer, in 1939, demonstrated the virtues of early operation that surgery began to take its place in the treatment of this condition, mainly by gastric resection. Results remained poor, however, until 1958 with the introduction of conservative treatment by vagotomy, pyloroplasty, and under-running of the bleeding point. Personal experience, both with partial gastrectomy in the 1950s and 1960s and with mainly conservative treatment between 1967 and 1970, is described and the results presented.