Treatment
The treatment of a perforation of the stomach is in most cases done by immediate surgery. Either the hole in the stomach is sutured over or part of the stomach must be removed if the hole is too large to be sutured over.
Can a perforation of the stomach be fatal?
As mentioned above, a perforation of the stomach is a life-threatening disease that can be fatal. The prognosis depends largely on how quickly the disease is treated surgically. With every hour that passes between the onset of symptoms and surgery, mortality increases. With more than 24 hours between the onset of symptoms and surgery, the mortality rate is over 50%.
Healing
In most cases, the healing of a perforation of the stomach can only be achieved through surgery. Often the triggering factor, for example an ulcer, is also removed during the operation. Whether or not a perforation of the stomach heals without consequences and what the prognosis is, depends largely on how much time has passed between the perforation and the operation.
If peritonitis occurs, intensive medical treatment may be necessary. Then the prognosis depends on the patient’s general condition and previous illnesses. In the advanced stage (no treatment of the perforation of the stomach until 24 hours after the beginning) the disease can be fatal in more than 50% of cases.
What are the consequences of a perforation of the stomach?
In the acute stage, a perforation of the stomach leads to leakage of the stomach contents into the abdominal cavity. This quickly leads to peritonitis. Therefore, a quick surgical therapy is absolutely necessary.
Once a successful surgical therapy has been performed, the slow build-up of food can be achieved with light, low-fat food. Even if a partial removal of the stomach was necessary, the diet will be built up. Under certain circumstances, the diet must be changed after the operation.
This depends on how the patient tolerates the food. Otherwise, after a successful operation, in many cases there are no more restrictions.