AbstractFifty‐six patients with high gastric ulcers were studied retrospectively. There were 38 women and 18 men. The mean age was 66 years. Findings were: 25% had ulcer histories of more than 5 years; 45% had illnesses in other systems making them poor operative risks; 34% were taking ulcerogenic drugs, and 36% were on antiulcer treatment prior to surgery; 43% presented with severe bleeding, 16% with perforation, and 2 patients had simultaneous bleeding and perforation; 38% had deeply penetrating ulcers and many ulcers were very large; 7 patients had ulcers in hiatus hernias. Sixty‐three percent of the procedures were emergencies. Half of the operations were nonresective, with or without vagotomy. The other half were gastric resections of various types. The overall mortality rate was 18%, but the mortality rate was 24% for emergency procedures and 9% for elective ones. The highest mortality rate, 45%, occurred after emergency resective procedures. Vagotomy did not increase postoperative mortality when added to a nonresective procedure. Beside the 10 patients who died, 6 others developed severe postoperative complications, usually respiratory failure or suture line leakage. Follow‐up of between 6 months and 12 years (average 3 years) was possible in 55% of the patients. Two developed recurrent ulcers and 2 had overlooked gastric carcinomas. An approach of management for high gastric ulcer is outlined recommending a Pauchet operation for good‐risk patients, and vagotomy and drainage for old and frail patients. Medical treatment should be pursued as long as possible to avoid an often hazardous operation.