[Relaparotomy in patients with perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers].

The article discusses the results of analysis of the causes of relaparotomy in 54 (3.1%) patients with perforating gastroduodenal ulcer in the period between 1966 and 1985, as well as the peculiarities of the course of complications, establishment of the diagnosis, and the methods and outcomes of surgical treatment. Postoperative mortality was 24.07%. The outcomes of relaparotomy were determined by early diagnosis of the complication, the time of the repeated operation, and the radical character of the first operative intervention. Mortality was less in relaparotomy undertaken in time (10.0%) than in late operations (41.7%). Mortality was highest among patients with postoperative peritonitis (46.7%). Postoperative peritonitis and intestinal obstruction were the most frequent conditions for which relaparotomy was carried out. Such factors as late hospitalization of the patients and generalization of peritonitis, the patients' age, doctors' errors, lateness and type of the first operative intervention played the principal role in the development of complication.