Surgical treatment in asymptomatic patients with duodenal ulcers as a prophylaxis against haemorrhage.

In a group of 17 patients who underwent surgery for chronic duodenal ulceration because of past bleeding but without current symptoms, one patient re-bled with a follow-up of 81 patient years, as compared to one bleed over 6.8 patient years before surgery. This suggests that surgery is protecting these patients against recurrent episodes of haemorrhage.