INFLUENCE OF CONCOMITANT MEDICAL DISEASES ON THE COURSE OF BLEEDING DUODENAL-ULCERS

Objective: To determine the effect of concomitant medical diseases on bleeding duodenal ulcer patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all bleeding duodenal ulcer patients admitted to King Khalid Universi ty Hospital between 1412 and 1416 H. patients were included in the stu dy if they;had, at endoscopy, actively bleeding duodenal ulcer, or gas troscopy showed evidence of stigmata of recent hemorrhage from duodena l ulcer. Patients were excluded if bleeding site was not identified, p resence of another source of bleeding or malignant ulcer. Results: Rec ords of fifty four patients fullfilled the criteria for inclusion. Twe nty patients (Group I) were suffering from bleeding duodenal ulcer alo ne (control group), while thirty four patients were diagnosed to have bleeding duodenal ulcer as well as a significant underlying medical di sorder (Group II). All patients received endoscopic adrenaline injecti on to achieve heamostasis. Group II patients were significantly older, stayed longer in hospital and had increased mortality P = 0.0001, 0.0 04 and 0.007 respectively. Rebleeding rate was also more common but st atistically not significant in Group II 20.6% V15% P = 0.8. Conclusion : Co-existing medical diseases adversely affect the outcome of bleedin g duodenal ulcer patients.