Perforated peptic ulcer in South India: an institutional perspective.

BACKGROUND: Perforated peptic ulcer is one of the most common surgical emergencies in South India. The advent of medical therapy for peptic ulcer has remarkably decreased the number of elective surgical procedures. The incidence of perforated peptic ulcer on the contrary, is increasing. The high incidence of complications necessitates the identification of factors associated with the morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing surgery for perforated peptic ulcer.

METHODS: Three hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients (299 men and 29 women) who underwent surgery for perforated peptic ulcer in our institute between November 2006 and June 2008 were studied prospectively.

RESULTS: The mean age was 43.4 +/- 14.4 years. The mean hospital stay was 10.9 +/- 6.8 days. Of the 328 patients, 58 presented with shock, 159 presented with delay more than 24 h, and 24 had co-morbid illness. Wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess were encountered in 12.5% and 13.4% of the patients, respectively. Altogether, 85 patients had postoperative complications. Twenty-eight (8.5%) patients died. The mortality rate among men and women was 7.9% and 20.7%, respectively. Age > or = 60 years, lag period longer than 24 h, presence of co-morbid illness, and shock at presentation were identified as independent predictors of postoperative complications. Shock at presentation, presence of co-morbid illness, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade III or more, and renal failure were identified as independent predictors of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing the delay in intervention and improving access to medical care may improve the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for perforated peptic ulcer. High-risk patients are those who present with shock and co-morbid illness.