Gastroduodenal ulcer perforation in the patient with cirrhosis

This retrospective study was done to stress the particular features of perforation of the gastroduodenal ulcer in patients with cirrhosis. From 1979 to 1987, 135 patients were operated upon for perforation of the gastroduodenal ulcer: clinical, biologic and roentgenographic data of 22 patients with cirrhosis were compared with 112 patients without cirrhosis. In the 22 patients with cirrhosis, three gastrectomies and 19 simple closures with omental patch were performed. Clinical ascites was present in 16 of 22 patients with cirrhosis. Acute abdominal pain and leukocytosis were less frequent in patients with cirrhosis (p less than 0.05), whereas associated bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was more frequent (p less than 0.05). In patients with cirrhosis, abnormal plasma creatinine level and associated upper GI bleeding were more frequent in patients with ascites (p less than 0.05); on the other hand, acute abdominal pain and rebound tenderness were less frequent (p less than 0.05). The incidence of pneumoperitoneum was higher in patients with cirrhosis. Surgical treatment was significantly delayed in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Ulcers were larger in patients with cirrhosis and ascites than without (p less than 0.001). Over-all morbidity and mortality rates in patients with cirrhosis were 77.3 and 50.0 per cent, respectively. Mortality and morbidity were significantly higher in patients with ascites than without (62.5 versus 16.6 and 100 versus zero per cent, respectively), in patients with prothrombin times of less than 50 per cent and with plasma creatinine levels more than 110 micromolars.