BACKGROUND

Morbidity and mortality rates in patients with perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remain substantial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a multimodal and multidisciplinary perioperative care protocol on mortality in patients with PPU.

METHODS

This was an externally controlled multicentre trial set in seven gastrointestinal departments in Denmark. Consecutive patients who underwent surgery for gastric or duodenal PPU between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009 were treated according to a multimodal and multidisciplinary evidence-based perioperative care protocol. The 30-day mortality rate in this group was compared with rates in historical and concurrent national controls.

RESULTS

The 30-day mortality rate following PPU was 17·1 per cent in the intervention group, compared with 27·0 per cent in the three control groups (P = 0·005). This corresponded to a relative risk of 0·63 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·41 to 0·97), a relative risk reduction of 37 (5 to 58) per cent and a number needed to treat of 10 (6 to 38).

CONCLUSION

The 30-day mortality rate in patients with PPU was reduced by more than one-third after the implementation of a multimodal and multidisciplinary perioperative care protocol, compared with conventional treatment.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT00624169 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).