Evolution of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Ulcer Disease: Is Acute Surgical Intervention Relevant?

Retrospective study of 129 pediatric ulcer cases over 30 years shows immunosuppressed children require surgical intervention at nearly 3x the rate of immunocompetent patients (47% vs 16%), with higher complication rates including bleeding, sepsis, and mortality. Findings support aggressive ulcer prophylaxis and early investigation of abdominal pain in transplant and oncology patients.