Long-term prognosis after partial gastrectomy for gastroduodenal ulcer

The decline in duodenal ulcer disease and the established relation of peptic ulcer to Helicobacter pylori have virtually abolished the need for elective ulcer surgery. However, a substantial proportion of the population around retirement age has previously been subjected to partial gastric resection due to peptic ulcer, and the long-term outcome of these patients is of continuing relevance. Patients subjected to elective surgery could represent a selected group of healthy subjects with a lower overall morbidity, but reports indicate that patients operated on for peptic ulcer have more advanced disease associated with excess smoking and a different pattern of social behavior. The surgical procedure induces enterogastric reflux, leading to profound changes in the remnant mucosa and the formation of carcinogens in the gastric juice. In addition, metabolic abnormalities are common, especially fat malabsorption. Evaluation of the impact of these factors on morbidity and mortality is difficult. Increased mortality in gastrointestinal tumors (especially gastric stump carcinoma), respiratory diseases and other smoking-related malignancies, and suicide are found in the long-term follow-up after partial gastric resection due to peptic ulcer. However, these hazards to life are offset by a decreased mortality in cardiovascular disease. Preventive measures against suicide and especially tobacco smoking are recommended to improve the outcome for this cohort.