LAPAROSCOPIC REPAIR OF PERFORATED DUODENAL-ULCER - A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER CLINICAL-TRIAL

Background: A series of 100 consecutive patients with perforated pepti c ulcer were prospectively evaluated in a multicenter study. The feasi bility of the laparoscopic repair was evaluated. Methods: All patients had peritonitis, 20% were in septic shock, and 57% had delayed perfor ation. Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in eight patients, The m orbidity rate was 9% and mortality rate 5%. Results: The mean delay of postoperative gastric aspiration (mean 3.4 days) and resumed food int ake (mean 4.4 days) as well as the mean postoperative hospital stay (m ean 9.3 days) were comparable to conventional surgery, but postoperati ve comfort was subjectively increased by laparoscopy and noticed by al l laparoscopic surgeons participating in this study. Conclusions: Lapa roscopic repair of perforated peptic ulcer proves to be technically fe asable and carries an acceptable morbidity and mortality rate, compare d with conventional surgery.