STUDY OF THE RISK-FACTORS IN HEMORRHAGE F ROM PEPTIC-ULCER

A retrospective analysis is made of the risk factors in 229 patients a dmitted to hospital with hemorrhage from peptic ulcer. The factors tha t have been studied are: 1) age, 2) type of ulcer lesion. 3) associate d disease. 4) antiinflammatory intake. 5) prior ulcer symptoms. 6) int ensity and outcome of the bleeding episode, 7) endoscopic findings, 8) treatment modality. 9) mortality. The analysis of these factors tries to establish, by means of the square chi test with Yates correction, the possible relations between the factors, to determine which ones wi ll have a pronostic value. From the results obtained we conclude that the factors with the highest pronostic importance are: 1) With respect to the severity of the bleeding episode, antiinflammatory intake and duodenal location of the ulcer lesion. 2) With respect to the need for urgent surgical treatment, antiinflammatory intake and prior ulcer sy mptoms. 3) With respect to mortality, severity, persistence and recurr ence of bleeding, and the need for urgent surgical treatment. Finally, it is important to mention the absence of pronostic value, with respe ct to mortality, of advanced age and the endoscopic findings of active and/or recent bleeding.