Non-operative management of perforated duodenal ulcer

We describe the selective non-operative management of 34 patients who had an initial diagnosis of perforated duodenal ulcer made on acute presentation between 1984-1994 in our district surgical unit. Diagnosis of the condition was made on clinical grounds with the aid of an erect chest X-ray which demonstrated pneumoperitoneum in 28 patients (82 per cent). Six patients (18 per cent) who did not respond to non-operative treatment required surgical intervention; 3 patients had an unsealed duodenal ulcer perforation; 2 had a perforated benign gastric ulcer and 1 patient had acute gangrenous cholecystitis. The overall mortality and morbidity rate was 3 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. There were no documented reperforations over a mean follow-up period of 27 months. While these figures are acceptable and comparable with operative intervention for this condition, we do however stress the labour intensive methods and close clinical monitoring that is required to avoid morbid sequelae.