Laparoscopic Ulcer Surgery Leads to Dramatically Shorter Hospital Stays and Quicker Recovery

Detroit – Patients who undergo laparoscopic treatment for a perforated peptic ulcer are more likely to be released from the hospital sooner and recover quicker, according to a study conducted at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital. The study was published in a recent edition of the journal Surgical Endoscopy.

Perforated peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. An ulcer can go through all the layers of the digestive tract and form a hole. Patients with perforated peptic ulcer disease typically experience a sudden onset of severe, sharp abdominal pain.

The Sinai-Grace Hospital study involved 49 patients, 33 who underwent open surgery for their ulcer, and 16 patients who were treated with a laparoscopic procedure. The results of the study show that the laparoscopy patients were released from the hospital in an average of 3.7 days, compared to 16.1 days for those who had open surgery.

In addition to shorter hospital stays, the laparoscopy patients had less post procedure pain and required far less pain medication. The patients also experienced a faster return of normal bowel function and were able to resume common daily activities sooner compared to the open surgery patients.   

“The results of our study reaffirm the benefits of minimally invasive treatments for perforated peptic ulcers, says Abubaker Ali, M.D., a surgeon at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital. “Shorter hospitals stay, less pain and a more rapid recovery not only lead to increased patient satisfaction, but also to a decrease in health care costs.”

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, approximately 4.6 million people are diagnosed with a peptic ulcer every year in the United States. Around 5 in every 100,000 with a peptic ulcer experience a perforation.