title: Surgical salvage of bleeding peptic ulcers after failed therapeutic endoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The approach to salvage surgery after failed endoscopic therapy for a bleeding peptic ulcer is controversial. We aimed to compare the outcomes of salvage surgery after failed endoscopic therapy for bleeding peptic ulcers over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients receiving salvage surgery for bleeding peptic ulcers were divided into 2 cohorts, the 1st from 1993 to 1998 and the 2nd from 1999 to 2004. The type of salvage surgery was defined as minimal if ulcer plication or an ulcerectomy was performed, and definitive if the patient received a vagotomy or gastrectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-three patients received salvage surgery in the 1st cohort, while 42 patients received surgical hemostasis for the bleeding peptic ulcer in the 2nd cohort. Patients in the 2nd cohort consisted of a larger proportion of in-hospital bleeders (cohort 1: 12.2%, cohort 2: 42.9%; p < 0.005) and had a significantly higher proportion of comorbidities. A larger number of patients received minimal surgery in cohort 2 (cohort 1: 42.3%, cohort 2: 73.8%; p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With advances in therapeutic endoscopy, patients who developed failed endoscopic hemostasis are likely to be poor surgical candidates with multiple comorbidities. The approach to salvage surgery has inclined towards minimal surgery to hasten surgical hemostasis among these fragile patients.
authors: Department of Surgery, Institute of Digestive Disease, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
authors: Philip Wai Yan
authors: PW
authors: Chiu
authors: Enders Kwok Wai
authors: EK
authors: Ng
authors: Simon Kin Hung
authors: SK
authors: Wong
authors: Anthony Yuen Bun
authors: AY
authors: Teoh
authors: Frances Ka Yin
authors: FK
authors: Cheung
authors: Man-yee
authors: MY
authors: Yung
authors: Joseph Jao Yiu
authors: JJ
authors: Sung
authors: James Yun Wong
authors: JY
authors: Lau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome