Obstructed duodenal ulcer syndrome. Observations from Kano, Northern Nigeria

23 patients with obstructed duodenal ulcer syndrome presented in a government hospital in Kano, Northern Nigeria within a 14 months period. One presented in acute obstruction while the remaining twenty two were chronic cases. Only one patient sought medical attention before the onset of symptoms of obstruction. These figures suggest that obstructed duodenal ulcer syndrome is fairly common in Kano and that most patients with uncomplicated duodenal ulcer there do not seek proper medical attention. Duodenal ulcer is therefore probably not as uncommon there as current literature suggests.