Marginal peptic ulcer in elderly patients.

Marginal peptic ulceration occurs with sufficient frequency in elderly patients to constitute a real problem. A study was made of 22 patients more than 65 years of age in whom such ulcers developed. Marginal ulcers in elderly patients are frequently associated with dangerous complications such as massive hemorrhage or perforation. Advancing age does not necessarily reduce the tendency to marginal ulcer formation. Such operative procedures as gastroenterostomy without vagotomy, and minimal gastric resection, do not afford adequate protection from marginal ulceration in elderly patients. When marginal ulcers occur in elderly patients, adequate gastric resection (70 to 75 per cent) or vagotomy in combination with resection is usually necessary.