Perforated Duodenal Ulcer: Has Anything Changed?

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the current management and outcome of perforated duodenal peptic ulcer managed with open repair, a focused analysis was conducted, excluding gastric, traumatic and iatrogenic perforations.

Patients and methods: A retrospective study of a 6-year period identified 61 patients. Mean age was 59 (range 19-87) years and 33 (54%) were male. Medical history included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 46%, smoking in 30%, atherosclerosis in 26% and excessive alcohol use in 23%.

Results: Generalized abdominal tenderness was recorded in 64% of the cases. The mean (SD) C-reactive protein value was 100 (141) g/l and white blood cell count was 12.8 (7.9) E9/l. Plain abdominal X-ray was positive for air in 87% (41/47) and CT scan in 86% (18/21). Four patients (7%) were operated without radiological imaging. There were 31 patients (51%) with a delay of 24 h or more from the start of symptoms to surgery. The mean (SD) delay from admission to surgery was 9 (3) (range 3-12) h. The treatment consisted of open suture repair in 92%, peritoneal lavage in 92%, external drainage in 80% and nasogastric decompression in 92%. The overall hospital mortality and morbidity rates were 11 and 21%, respectively. The duodenal suture leak rate was 7% and intra-abdominal abscess rate was 2%.

Conclusion: The majority of patients with perforated duodenal ulcer can be diagnosed with conventional clinical and radiological methods, and treated according to established surgical principles. The mortality and duodenal morbidity rates have remained unchanged for the last decade. Shortening preoperative delay could improve the prognosis.

Keywords: Emergency surgery; Peptic ulcer; Perforation; Peritonitis.