Clinical Profile and Early Outcomes of Surgically Treated Perforated Peptic Ulcer at a Teaching Hospital in Derna, Libya: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is a time-critical surgical emergency that can lead to peritonitis, postoperative complications, prolonged admission, and death. Local descriptions of the clinical profile and outcomes of patients undergoing emergency surgery can help identify priorities for care. Objective: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics, recorded exposures, anatomical site of perforation, postoperative length of stay, and recorded postoperative outcomes among patients operated on for perforation with peritonitis at a hospital in Derna, Libya. Methods: This retrospective, hospital-based descriptive study included 163 operated cases recorded as perforation with peritonitis. Data supplied for this draft covered demographic variables, smoking, alcohol use, occupation, income group, blood group, chronic anxiety, analgesic/NSAID use, dietary exposures, Helicobacter pylori status, presenting symptoms, symptom duration, perforation site, postoperative length of stay, and postoperative events. Categorical data are summarized as frequencies and percentages; continuous data as mean ± standard deviation where available. Results: The supplied aggregate data recorded 160 males (98.2%) and 3 females (1.8%). The largest age groups were 19–30 years (27.6%) and 31–40 years (25.2%). Mean BMI was reported as 20 ± 2.5. Poor and good income groups were recorded in 68 (41.7%) and 95 (58.3%) patients, respectively. H. pylori diagnosis was recorded as positive in 93 (57.1%) and negative in 70 (42.9%). Postoperative stay was 0–5 days in 120 (73.6%), 6–9 days in 19 (11.7%), and more than 10 days in 24 (14.7%). Recorded postoperative events included re-operation in 30 (18.4%), sepsis in 12 (7.4%), shock in 16 (9.8%), and death in 10 (6.1%); 95 (58.3%) were listed as having no complication. Conclusion: This study provides a preliminary description of the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and hospital outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for perforated peptic ulcer in Derna, Libya. The findings offer a local baseline for future research; however, the retrospective single-centre design and absence of a control group limit generalizability and preclude causal inference. Larger prospective, multicentre studies with complete and validated data are needed to confirm these findings and identify factors associated with adverse outcomes.