Complications of peptic ulcer in the aged.

Peptic ulcer is not an uncommon disease among the aged population. Thirty-five per cent of the patients admitted to the Los Angeles County General Hospital in a period of 12 months for treatment of peptic ulcer were more than 60 years of age. The severity of this disease in the elderly group was evidenced by the high incidence of lethal complications requiring operation-one case in every four. The mortality rate from operation for peptic ulcer complications is related to the factors of concurrent disease, the urgency of operation and the selection of a suitable operation.