Perforation of Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers: Clinical Manifestations
Disease description:
The day before yesterday, I suddenly experienced severe pain, particularly in my stomach. Yesterday afternoon, the pain was so intense that I had cramps. I'm really afraid that I might have a gastric ulcer. I would like to know about the clinical manifestations of perforation of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Clinical manifestations of perforated peptic ulcer:
1. Acute severe abdominal pain: After the perforation, gastrointestinal fluids flow into the abdominal cavity, causing sharp, knife-like severe pain in the abdomen, which may rapidly spread to the entire abdomen. This pain is often unbearable and may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
2. Symptoms of shock: Due to intra-abdominal bleeding and infection caused by the perforation, patients may develop symptoms of shock, including pallor, cold sweats, cold extremities, and rapid, weak pulse.
3. Peritoneal irritation signs: On abdominal examination, patients may exhibit generalized abdominal tenderness, rebound tenderness, and abdominal muscle rigidity, which are signs of peritoneal irritation. These signs result from inflammation and exudative fluid in the abdominal cavity stimulating the peritoneum.
4. Fever: Some patients may experience mild to moderate fever, which may be caused by intra-abdominal infection.
5. Decreased or absent bowel sounds: Reduced or absent bowel sounds indicate impaired intestinal function.
Patients should seek medical attention promptly when experiencing the above symptoms.
