Immediate Results in the Treatment of the Perforated Peptic Ulcer, 1942-1957

Introduction  In 1954, the Statistical Bulletin of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company published a study of surgical mortality associated with the treatment of various lesions by major surgical operations.¹ In all instances cited, surgical mortality had apparently been reduced during the decade of the 40's by at least one-half and in several instances by more than four-fifths. For several reasons, however, there would seem to be cause for doubt as to whether this marked and well-recognized decrease in general surgical mortality were also true in the case of the acutely perforated peptic ulcer. To obtain more information on this point, we have critically studied all the patients treated for an acute perforation of a peptic ulcer at the Buffalo General Hospital for the 15-year period from Jan. 1, 1942, to Jan. 1, 1957. These cases have been divided for comparison into three groups, each covering a consecutive period of