Perforated duodenal ulcer in Asir central hospital.

In a study of 27 cases of perforated duodenal ulcer seen at Asir Central Hospital over a period of seven years, two patients were females and 25 males. The highest incidence was in the fourth decade and the average age was 36.3 years. The Saudi-foreigner ratio was 1:2.9 in an area where the Saudi-foreigner population ratio was 1:3. Nine patients (33.3%) were previously diagnosed as having peptic ulcer and had received treatment at one time or the other before perforation. Eighteen patients (66.7%) were first diagnosed to peptic ulcer after the perforation. All the identified perforations were located anteriorly and anterosuperiorly. Only one case occurred in the second part of duodenum. The rest occurred in the first part. Two patients were treated successfully conservatively. The month perforations occurred most was the month of Shaaban. The fasting period during the month of Ramadhan did not show any increase in the prevalence of perforation in this hospital.