Effect of cimetidine on healing and surgical treatment of gastric ulcers

Traditional therapy for giant gastric ulcers (greater than 3 cm) has been gastric resection because of a presumed high risk of hemorrhage and recurrence. To determine the validity of this approach and decide whether the need for resection has been altered by the introduction of H2-blockers, the records of 10,054 gastroduodenal endoscopies performed between 1971 and 1984 were reviewed. Forty-nine patients with giant gastric ulcers were identified. Five patients had malignant ulcers. Ten patients underwent gastric resection as initial therapy. Thirty-four patients were initially treated without surgery and were divided into Group I (no H2-blockers; 9 patients) and Group II (H2-blockers; 25 patients). Medical therapy was successful in three of nine patients (33%) in Group I and in 20 of 25 patients (80%) in Group II. Of 11 patients who failed medical therapy (7 intractability, 3 recurrence, and 1 fatal hemorrhage), 10 underwent subsequent gastric resection. Of the 20 patients treated surgically (10 initial and 10 medical failures), none were readmitted for recurrent ulcer disease. These data suggest that medical therapy of benign giant gastric ulcers is often effective and not associated with an excessive incidence of complications, as believed. Successful healing of these ulcers is greatly enhanced when H2-blockers are employed. Thus, the presence of an uncomplicated benign giant gastric ulcer is not an absolute indication for gastric resection.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Effect of cimetidine on healing and surgical treatment of gastric ulcers

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Factors predicting failure of medical therapy for gastric ulcers

Factors predicting failure of medical therapy for gastric ulcers

Gastric ulcer

Giant Gastric Ulcers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About