Perforated gastric carcinoma

OBJECTIVES In this study, we aimed to discus morbidity, mortality and surgical procedures of the patients who had been operated on with the indication of gastric tumour perforation. METHODS A total of 29 patients (25 males, 4 females; median age 54.31 +/- 14.42 years) who underwent emergency operation were studied. The following variables were assessed: pathololic features, rate of morbidity and mortality, causes of reoperation and factors related with outcome. RESULTS A total of 29 (12%) patients with perforated gastric carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed among 241 consecutive cases of gastric cancer operated in Dicle University General Surgery Department. The complication rate was 51.7 percent. Initially, 22 patients had palliative operations. Three patients had a potentially curative procedure at the emergency operation. Overall, post-operative mortality was 20.7% (6/29). CONCLUSION In our region, gastric cancer perforation is encountered in younger patients with higher proportion. The stage of the tumor is advanced and the diagnosis of peritonitis is delayed. So, these factors decrease the rates of curative surgery.