Evaluation of risk factors for mortality in surgically treated perforated peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate complications and possible risk factors for mortality in perforated peptic ulcer patients with a special reference to the fact whether definitive or non-definitive operation was performed.

METHODOLOGY

All 394 patients (mean age: 45.5 years; range: 15-93) from Tartu county hospitalized for PPU at Tartu University Clinic in the period 1978-97 were included in a retrospective study.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (5.6%) of 394 died. In 73 patients 93 concomitant diseases (mortality 19.2%) and in 81 patients 114 complications were observed. There were 245 non-definitive operations and 141 definitive operations with a mortality rate of 7.3% and 1.4%, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis of 386 operatively treated patients revealed that age > or = 65 years, concomitant diseases, treatment delay > or = 12 hours, female sex and non-definitive operations were significantly associated with mortality. However, multivariate analysis showed that only age > or = 65 years and concomitant diseases were independent predictors of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' high age and presence of concomitant diseases were related to lethal outcome after surgical procedure performed for perforated peptic ulcer. The result did not depend on the fact whether definitive or non-definitive operation was applied.