What are the Treatments for a Perforated Peptic Ulcer?
Peptic ulcers, erosions caused by stomach acid that occur in the stomach or duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, affect half a million Americans each year, Baylor College of Medicine reports. Peptic ulcers, most often caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori or by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that irritate the stomach lining, can perforate or eat completely through the lining of the stomach or intestine, causing pain, nausea and vomiting. Infection of the abdominal cavity, peritonitis, generally follows and requires prompt treatment.
