Perforated gastric ulcer.

Thirty-four patients presenting with gastric perforation over a ten year period were studied, retrospectively. Five patients (14%) died either as a result of delay in treatment or wrong diagnosis. In addition, 2 patients (6%) died from postoperative complications. Twelve patients (38%) were on potentially ulcerogenic drugs. Patients who had either simple closure of ulcers (n = 17) or partial gastrectomy (n = 6) had few symptoms at follow-up, but patients who underwent truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (n = 7) had poorer results. There were 2 recurrent ulcers following simple closure.