[Surgical treatment of duodenal perforation]

Duodenal ulcer can be cured successfully by the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. p.) and administration of anti-acid secretory drugs, however, from among the complications of duodenal ulcer, perforation with unchanged incidence continues to need an urgent operation. The authors examined the case histories, results of preoperative examinations, data of operations, and postoperative events of 175 patients hospitalized for perforation of duodenal ulcer in the past five years. The average age of the 38 women was more than 20 years greater than that of the 137 men. The time between the appearance of the serious symptoms and the operation exceeds 24 hours in 31 patients. There was serious preoperative general condition (ASA IV. and V.) in 13.7% of the cases. In the last year infection with H. p. was proved with Pylori Screen II (Orion Diagnostica) serological examination in 22 patients. Closure of the perforation was made in open fashion in 155 (average operative time: 54.1 min.), laparoscopically in 7 (average operative time: 117.9 min.) and gastric resection was necessary in 12 patients (average operative time: 154.6 min.). In 20.4% of the survivors a complication was observed. All of the 18 non-survivors (10.3%) were operated on in poor condition and beyond recovery. Seven patients operated on laparoscopically experienced undisturbed recovery, and stayed in the hospital the shortest time (average: 5.4 days). In the authors opinion the preoperative knowledge of H. p. infection influences the method of the operation of choice, and they recommend the laparoscopic access in elected cases.