Septic complications of perforated peptic ulcer.

The septic complications of peptic ulcer perforation have not been adequately described in the literature because the sparse microflora usually present in the upper gastrointestinal tract is generally believed to represent a minimal risk. One hundred and eighty-two peptic ulcer perforations (150 duodenal, 32 gastric), seen over 15 years, are reviewed. The septic complications relating to intestinal perforation included intra-abdominal abscess (22 cases), wound infection (26 cases) and generalized bacterial peritonitis (18 cases). The incidence of postoperative abscesses was significantly (p less than 0.05) greater in patients with gastric than with duodenal perforation. In both groups, abscesses were much more frequent when perforation occurred more than 24 hours before operation. The risk of intra-abdominal sepsis following acute peptic perforation is substantial. In such cases, routine anaerobic and aerobic cultures should be done of fluid taken from the peritoneal cavity at operation.