Methamphetamine-related peptic ulcer perforation: a growing medical concern

Many studies have been done in the literature on perforations due to substance abuse, and there are limited publications on perforations related to inhaled methamphetamine. Recently, in our clinic, we observed an increase in the number of patients with perforated peptic ulcer, which we think is secondary to a significant increase in the consumption of this drug. The main purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of inhaled methamphetamine known as 'fire and ice' is a factor directly related to peptic perforation and its complications and also to determine the demographic variables of patients with peptic ulcer perforation due to this substance use, in the context of the literature.

A retrospective study was conducted by examining the medical records of 29 gastric perforation patients who underwent surgical treatment in our clinic in 2021. Data were transferred to SPSS.23 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) program and evaluated with statistical analysis. Normality assumptions of continuous variables were examined with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and variance homogeneity was examined with Levene's test. Bi-level comparisons, t-test if the data are normally distributed and Mann-Whitney U-test for bi-level comparisons where the data are not normally distributed were used. Relationships between categorical variables were examined by Chi-square test analysis. P<0.05 was accepted as the level of significance in all analyzes.

Twenty-nine patients were divided into two groups as methamphetamine users (n=13) and non-users (n=16). There was a statistically significant difference according to the lower age in the group using methamphetamine (31.69-48.8-P=0.025). The pres-ence of PU history differed significantly between the groups (P=0.009). Interestingly, aspartate transaminase alanine aminotransferase values were lower in substance dependents (P=0.020). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in localization between groups (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, clinical presentation, and other laboratory values.

Methamphetamine consumption, known as fire and ice, is an important risk factor for ulcer development and subsequent perforation, especially in young patients and long-term consumption of this narcotic substance. It has been determined that this risk factor, which is currently considered rare, has been seen in a very large number in a short time in our clinic. The use of this substance, which is considered a major social threat, is becoming more and more widespread, and this study is only a small part of the iceberg reflected in the general surgery clinic of a hospital.