COMPLICATIONS OF PEPTIC ULCER

COMPLICATIONS OF PEPTIC ULCER

• Bleeding

  • occurs in 15% to 20% of patients

  • Chronic blood loss may lead to iron deficiency anemia

  • Severe bleeding may result in malaena or coffe ground vomitus

  • May be life-threatening

  • Accounts for 25% of ulcer deaths

• Perforation

  • occurs in about 5% of patients

  • Chronic duodenal ulcers perforate more commonly than chronic gastric ulcers

  • On perforation contents escape into lesser sac or into the peritoneal cavity causing acute peritonitis

  • Accounts for two thirds of ulcer deaths

• Obstruction

  • obstructionfrom edema or scarring occurs in about 2% of patients

  • Healed ulcers near the pylorus lead to pyloric stenosis

  • Healed gastric ulcers lead to hour glass deformity due to contraction and fibrosis

• Malignant transformation can occur in less than 1% of chronic gastric ulcers