Surgery of peptic ulcer in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The introduction of H2-receptor blockers, proton pump inhibitors and eradication of Helicobacter pylori has greatly reduced the need for surgical intervention in the management of peptic ulcer disease. However in communities where these drugs are out of reach or compliance is poor, operations are still carried out. We reviewed the medical records of 68 patients who had surgery for peptic ulcer disease over a 10 year period to determine the indications for surgery, operative procedure performed, and the outcome of surgery. Thirty-eight (56%) were operated on for gastric outlet obstruction while 21 and 9 respectively had perforation and bleeding as the indication for surgery. The operative procedures performed were truncal vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy(38), truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (18) and simple closure of perforation(12). Sepsis, consequent upon perforation and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding were the most common complications leading to death in 10(12%) patients Keywords: peptic ulcer, gastric outlet obstruction, perforation, vagotomy, gastrojejunostomy, pyloroplasty Nigerian Journal of surgical Sciences Vol. 16 (2) 2006: pp. 80-85