Quality of life after peptic perforation.

AIM OF STUDY: Quality of life (QOL) as outcome during treatment of acid peptic disease has been studied, but, peptic perforation, which is the commonest complication of acid peptic disease, has not been studied in the light of QOL outcome. The present-study addresses the important issue of QOL after peptic perforations.

METHODS: This prospective study was carried on 51 adult consecutive survivors of peptic perforation managed in Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Government NSCB Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur (MP) India. These underwent exploratory laparotomy with repair of perforation, and subsequently were discharged on anti-ulcer therapy (Pantoprazole 40 mg once a day) for 6 weeks. The instrument chosen to study their QOL was gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI). Patients were assessed before they underwent surgery and 3 months and 6 months after operation.

RESULTS: The overall GIQLI score (t = 20.1, p < 0.00 at 3 months; t = 8.2, p < 0.001 at 6 months) as well as its G I core (t = 14.5, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 7.3, p < 0.001 at 6 months), G I disease specific (t = 12.9, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 2.6, p < 0.02 at 6 months), psychological (t = 15.4, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 3.5, p < 0.001 at 6 months) and physical and social components (t = 10.9, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 4.2, p < 0.001 at 6 months) significantly increased over 3 and 6 months of follow-up, reflecting improvement in quality of life as perceived by the patients. Variations in the pattern of recovery, based on age and gender were not seen in the present study.

CONCLUSION: Peptic perforation does not result in any long lasting impairment of QOL and the QOL improves to near normal in 6 months time after the perforation.