PERFORATED DUODENAL ULCER

Objective: Perforated duodenal ulcer is a common surgical emergency.Controversy exists regarding simple closure of perforation or definitive surgery in emergency setting. The objective ofthe study is to see the result of simple closure of perforated duodenal ulcer followed by eradication of H. Pylori in youngsoldiers. Design: Descriptive and analytical. Place and duration of study: This study was carried out at CMHKharian/CMH Rawalpindi between Jan 1998 to June 2002. Subject and method: Fifty three young soldiers presentingwith perforated duodenal ulcer were included in the study. They were treated with simple closure of perforation followedby eradication of H. Pylori. These patients were followed up in OPD for two years. Depending upon their symptoms theywere placed in different Visick grades. Result: Six patients (11.3%) were lost in followup and excluded from the study.Out of remaining forty seven patients thirty nine patients (82.5%) remained asymptomatic and did not require furthertreatment. Four patients (8.5%) required symptomatic treatment. Three patients (6.3%) required another course ofomeprazole. One of them (2.1%) required vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy for gastric outlet obstruction. Conclusion:It was concluded that simple closure of perforation with H. Pylori eradication is a simple and safe procedure to treat thisemergency.