Factors influencing morbidity and mortality in perforated duodenal ulcer.

The overall mortality and morbidity rates in 124 patients with perforated duodenal ulcer from 1968 to 1978 were 9.6 per cent and 28 per cent. The only factors which directly affected the patient's outcome were 1) age of the patient (high mortality in older patients) and 2) the time interval from onset of symptoms caused by perforation to the time of the operation (the longer the interval, the more likely the complications). No improvement in mortality and morbidity figures was seen in the past decade.