ATTRIBUTES OF PATIENTS WITH PERFORATED DUODENAL ULCER IN DUHOK CITY

Background: Perforation of peptic ulcer is regarded as one of the common abdominal surgical emergencies. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical features and potential risk factors among patients with perforated duodenal ulcer in Duhok city. Subject and Methods: This is a prospective descriptive study done at the Emergency Teaching Hospital in Duhok city, over a period of one year (1st of January,201531st of December,2015).The study included 35patients who were operated upon for perforated duodenal ulcer. The clinical findings and probable risk factors for perforation of the duodenal ulcer were studied. Results: Age of the patients ranged from 15-80 years; the commonest age group affected was the 20-39 years old (54.2%). Twenty-eight (80%) were males. Helicobacter pylori antibodies were positive of in 26 patients (74.2 %) while history of ingestion of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs in 25 (71.4%). Twenty-one patients (60%) were smokers and 10 (28.5%) alcoholic. Past history of chronic peptic ulcer was present in 12 patients (34.2%), positive family history in 4 (11.4) and history of ingestion of steroid in 2 (5.7%). Duration of symptoms for more than 24 hours was present in 20 patients (57.1%), generalized abdominal pain in 19 (54.2%), epigastric pain in 16 (45.7%), nausea in 18 (51.4%), vomiting in 12 (34.2%) and rigid abdomen in 26 (74.2%). Conclusions: Young age, male gender Helicobacter pylori infection, ingestion of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and smoking, seemed probable risk factors for occurrence of duodenal ulcer perforation. Late presentation was not uncommon. Duhok Med J 2017; 11 (1): 9-18.