Time Trends in Peptic Ulcer Surgery in Sweden

A preliminary report of a nation-wide survey

Abstract

In order to establish time trends in surgical rates for peptic ulcer disease, we sent a questionnaire to every surgical department in Sweden. Eighty-two per cent of the departments responded. Since 1956 there was a marked and steady decline in elective procedures (− 83%) and to a much lesser extent also in emergency procedures for perforations (− 30%). The decline was most pronounced for duodenal ulcer in men. In 1986, the incidence was 1. 2 and 0. 65 operations per 10 000 inhabitants for elective and emergency operations, respectively. In the future, the few patients needing elective surgery for peptic ulcer may have to be served by a small number of specialized centers.