(. 10 240, 47). Treatment failures were reported in at least 6 of 151 cases (4%). Conclusions: Atypical clinical and serological courses of syphilis were observed in HIV infected patients. Ulcerating secondary syphilis with general symptoms ("malignant syphilis") was 60 times more frequent than in historic syphilis series. Neurosyphilis was found in one sixth of those with active syphilis. Therefore lumbar puncture should be considered a routine in coinfections with HIV and syphilis. Treatment efficacy should be monitored carefully.

The persisting high incidence of peptic ulcer disease is a superimposing of two trends: a higher incidence in the growing population of elderly patient with a higher intake of NSAIDs and a lower incidence among younger patients due to a decrease in incidence and improved medical treatment.

Long-term prognosis of peptic ulcer perforation is poor. Risk factors for late mortality after peptic ulcer perforation are age, severe concomitant diseases, and postinterventional complications.

An evidence-based approach is followed, with grading of evidence by study design, to evaluate surgical treatment of a bleeding peptic ulcer. In contrast to endoscopic treatment, reports of surgical treatment are rare, with only five randomized trials having been identified. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the incidence of emergency surgery has not changed despite major improvements with endoscopic treatment. There are no proven alternatives to emergency operation for massive bleeding uncontrollable by endoscopic procedures. There is some debate about surgery for rebleeding, but no randomized trial has assessed whether a second endoscopic treatment alone is preferable to surgery with or without repeated endoscopic treatment. Concerning the type of operative procedure, the existing body of evidence, including two randomized studies, indicates that patients are best served by a relatively aggressive surgical approach. Today the value of these studies is limited owing to prevention of ulcer recurrence by eradication and technical improvements of local procedures (e.g., arterial ligation). Early elective surgery was tested in two randomized studies and several uncontrolled series, which demonstrated that it may be beneficial in high risk groups and harmful in others. Indications for early elective surgery should be refined taking into account updated prognostic information and more effective endoscopic treatment. Because of a new understanding of ulcer disease the role of surgery has changed markedly within the last years, no longer aiming to cure the disease but primarily to stop the hemorrhage. Evidence, however, is not derived from properly randomized controlled trials but is based on theoretic arguments and knowledge from studies not primarily dealing with operative treatment.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a well known complication in severely traumatized patients. Existing data of AAC originate from retrospective analyses and episodic case reports. In a prospective study 45 polytraumatized patients admitted to our intensive care unit from January 1989 to June 1990 were clinically and sonographically screened for this condition at defined time intervals. Trauma scoring was performed according to the injury severity score and polytrauma score. AAC was defined as a combination of hydrops of the gallbladder, an increased wall thickness (> 3.5 mm), and the demonstration of sludge. We were able to document this diagnostic triad in 8 (18%) of 45 patients. As a consequence early elective cholecystectomy was performed in 1 of the 8 patients. The remaining patients were treated conservatively. The incidence of AAC in severely traumatized patients is higher than figures so far published suggest. Ultrasound is a reliable method of early detection and follow-up of this complication.