What Is a Perforated Duodenal Ulcer?
A perforated duodenal ulcer occurs when an area of erosion eats right through the gut wall in that part of the digestive system leading from the stomach, known as the duodenum. The life-threatening condition known as peritonitis may follow, where inflammation and infection spread rapidly into the abdominal cavity affecting all the major organs. Someone with an ulcer usually has a history of indigestion, perhaps involving reflux, where stomach acid passes up into the throat. With a perforated duodenal ulcer, there may be sudden pain in the center of the chest, just below the breastbone. The pain spreads outwards to become more generalized abdominal pain and emergency surgery is generally required to repair the gut.
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