[Ulcer surgery during 1976-1978 and 1986-1988. Significance of H2 blockaders in surgical training].

A retrospective study of all operations done for duodenal or stomach peptic ulcers in 1976-1978 and 1986-1988 was performed so as to evaluate elective and emergency surgery before and after the introduction of H2-receptor antagonists and to evaluate the influence of medical treatment on surgical training in ulcer surgery. The number of elective operations fell by 80%, the number of emergency operations was unchanged. In 1986-1988 the number of elderly patients who underwent emergency surgery increased, no change in age was seen in elective surgery. The rate of complications was unchanged after elective operations, but has increased considerably after emergency surgery in 1986-1988. Surgeons in training performed a greater share of operations, both elective and emergency, but without an increase in complications. The introduction of H2-receptor antagonists has not reduced the number of emergency operations.