LAPAROSCOPIC PATCHING OF CRACK COCAINE-INDUCED PERFORATED ULCERS

Since the advent of ''crack'' cocaine use in the United States as an i llicit drug, crack-related perforated ulcers have been reported in the surgical literature. An ischemic process has been postulated as a cau se of these perforations. As such, an acid-reducing operative procedur e is not recommended. Omental patching of these ulcers has been recomm ended as the procedure of choice. With the advent of laparoscopic tech niques in general surgery, it is now possible to perform this procedur e laparoscopically. Laparoscopy may afford the advantages of reduced m orbidity, decreased hospital stay, and results potentially equal to th e open technique. We present three patients with crack-related perfora ted ulcers that have been repaired with laparoscopic-assisted patching techniques.