Perforated ulcer
| Perforated ulcer | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ruptured ulcer |
| Endoscopic image of a posterior wall duodenal ulcer with a clean base, which is a common cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and could potentially lead to perforation. | |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology |
| Symptoms | Abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea |
| Complications | Bowel perforation, sepsis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage |
| Usual onset | Sudden |
| Risk factors | Untreated peptic ulcer |
| Treatment | Immediate surgery |
A perforated ulcer is a condition in which an untreated ulcer has burned through the mucosal wall in a segment of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., the stomach or colon) allowing gastric contents to leak into the abdominal cavity.