Abstract
İntroduction:
Severe stress is one of the leading causes of peptic ulcer perforations. This study aimed to investigate the effects of social stress caused by earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on peptic ulcer perforations.
Materials-Methods:
Based on the earthquakes that happened on February 6, 2023, 66 peptic ulcer perforation patients operated on in three centers in Şanlıurfa in the 6-month periods before and after the earthquake were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were evaluated based on their age, gender, diagnostic method, perforation diameter, perforation location, surgical technique, duration of surgery, duration of hospitalization, and mortality. The study also included laboratory parameters, such as white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, and albumin levels.
Results
In the 6 months before the earthquake, 21 patients were operated on for peptic ulcer perforation, whereas 45 patients were operated on 6 months later for the same reason. Each group had two fatalities. The number of patients who operated on after the earthquake was significantly higher than those who operated on before the earthquake.
Conclusion
Stress has a crucial role in the development of peptic ulcer perforation. When planning peptic ulcer treatment, it is important to update the medical treatment accordingly, mainly when the stress factor is severe.