The successful medical management of gastric outflow obstruction associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the elderly.

One hundred and nineteen consecutive elderly patients with endoscopically diagnosed peptic ulceration were reviewed. Associated gastric outflow obstruction was present in 10.1%. The presenting clinical features differed significantly from typical younger patients and most (11/12) were taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, suggesting a possible role for these agents in the pathogenesis of gastric outflow obstruction. These elderly patients have been successfully managed by medical therapy alone.