Well, any kind of surgery has some risk to it, especially at that age.

However, if the ulcer is not taken care of, it can actually cause a life threatening infection that will require emergency surgery later on.

That is what happened to my grandmother. She had to spend, I believe it was, 22 days in the hospital and come home with a bag. I do not recall how long she had to keep the bag for. She is doing much better now though.