Abstract

In Tartu the first gastric resections in the surgical treatment of peptic ulcer were performed by Prof Zoege von Manteuffel 115 years ago.

To achieve better treatment outcome, in comparison with that obtained with gastric resection, more stomach-saving, or stomachpreserving operations were introduced in Tartu in 1960-1984, among them different variants of vagotomy, either without or with ulcer excision and pyloroplasty.

In connection with the emergence of new effective modalities of medical treatment in 1980-1990, the proportion of elective peptic ulcer surgery has decreased almost to nil and emergency surgery is increasingly more dominated by non-definitive operative methods, including also the non-invasive laparoscopic technique.

Surgical treatment of peptic ulcer has undergone profound changes in the course of 115 years. During this time it has continuously improved in Estonia and has nowadays good, internationally acceptable short and long term results.