Peptic Ulcer in the Royal Navy

AbstractPeptic ulcer disease has been a major problem in the Royal Navy for more than 50 years. During the past decade specialist gastroenterology services have been established in an attempt to conserve and retain manpower skills. Fibreoptic endoscopy now provides rapid and accurate diagnosis while treatment with the new H2 receptor antagonists permits safe and effective therapy for the sailor both outside hospital and often now while still at sea. Changes in surgical techniques and a combined medical/surgical policy towards the peptic ulcer patient have also contributed to a coordinated programme.The result of these changes has been a reduction in hospital admissions for duodenal ulcer, in the number of days of work lost from peptic ulcer disease, and a decline in the number of surgical operations for peptic ulcer at RNH Haslar. Invaliding of patients from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for peptic ulcer disease has been almost abolished, emphasising the success of our policy of manpower conservation. Further work is required, however, to maintain patients in remission from their ulcer for longer periods and to identify better and earlier those patients who will ultimately require surgery.

Peptic Ulcer in the Royal Navy Journal Articles