Is Duodenal Ulcer Perforation in Adolescents Different from Duodenal Ulcer Perforation in Adults?

Background: Duodenal ulcer perforations (DUP) are missed in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen because they are less common in children than in adults. Delay in diagnosis may cause morbidity or even mortality. It was aimed to raise awareness about DUP in adolescent by comparing the data of adolescent cases treated in our clinic with the adult cases' data in the literature. Objectives: We reviewed the clinical characteristics of nine male patients with DUP, ages between 14 and 17 years, admitted to our clinic between January 2007 and June 2020 retrospectively. Literature data on DUP in adults were reviewed. Methods: The obtained data were compared with the data of adult patients in the literature. Results: Patients were reported to have symptoms such as abdominal pain and vomiting that lasted for 1-30 days on average in 8 patients, and nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs were used all patients except 2 patients. There was diffuse tenderness at the abdomen in all of the remaining patients and in 7 patients intraabdominal free air was observed. Perforation was repaired with omentoplasty in all patients. Unlike the adult population, DUP adolescents are more related to NSAID use rather than Helicobacter pylori infection and complicated surgical techniques were not required because the cases were generally not complicated. Conclusions: Although it is rarely seen in adolescents and shows certain differences compared to adult patients, the anamnesis and physical examination of the patients should direct the physicians to the DUP. Differences from adult population should be considered in diagnosis and treatment.