Perforated ulcers related to smoking "crack" cocaine. 1992

H B Kram, and E Hardin, and S R Clark, and W C Shoemaker
Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County King/Drew Medical Center, CA 90059.

This article describes four patients with perforated gastroduodenal ulcers related to smoking "crack" cocaine. All patients came to the hospital with acute abdominal pain; only one patient had a history of ulcer disease. Only one patient had an elevated white blood cell count, and two patients had depressed white blood cell counts. In three patients, the x ray showed that pneumoperitoneum was present. Upon surgical exploration of the abdomen, all patients were found to have extensive peritoneal contamination. Operative repair consisted of omental patching with or without primary closure of the perforation. A history of cocaine smoking should be sought in patients with unexplained abdominal pain or pneumoperitoneum. In patients with acute abdominal pain and a history of smoking cocaine, a perforated gastroduodenal ulcer may be present, despite normal or low white blood cell counts and the lack of pneumoperitoneum on x-ray examination.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007958 Leukocyte Count The number of WHITE BLOOD CELLS per unit volume in venous BLOOD. A differential leukocyte count measures the relative numbers of the different types of white cells. Blood Cell Count, White,Differential Leukocyte Count,Leukocyte Count, Differential,Leukocyte Number,White Blood Cell Count,Count, Differential Leukocyte,Count, Leukocyte,Counts, Differential Leukocyte,Counts, Leukocyte,Differential Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts, Differential,Leukocyte Numbers,Number, Leukocyte,Numbers, Leukocyte
D008297 Male Males
D008487 Medical History Taking Acquiring information from a patient on past medical conditions and treatments. Medical History, Previous,Past Medical History, Family,Previous Medical History,Family Health History,Family History, Health,Family History, Medical,Family Medical History,History Taking, Medical,Family Health Histories,Family Medical Histories,Health Family Histories,Health Family History,Health History, Family,History, Previous Medical,Medical Family Histories,Medical Family History,Medical Histories, Previous,Medical History, Family,Previous Medical Histories
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010439 Peptic Ulcer Perforation Penetration of a PEPTIC ULCER through the wall of DUODENUM or STOMACH allowing the leakage of luminal contents into the PERITONEAL CAVITY. Peptic Ulcer Perforations,Perforation, Peptic Ulcer,Perforations, Peptic Ulcer,Ulcer Perforation, Peptic,Ulcer Perforations, Peptic
D011027 Pneumoperitoneum A condition with trapped gas or air in the PERITONEAL CAVITY, usually secondary to perforation of the internal organs such as the LUNG and the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, or to recent surgery. Pneumoperitoneum may be purposely introduced to aid radiological examination.
D011859 Radiography Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film). Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D004381 Duodenal Ulcer A PEPTIC ULCER located in the DUODENUM. Curling's Ulcer,Curling Ulcer,Curlings Ulcer,Duodenal Ulcers,Ulcer, Curling,Ulcer, Duodenal,Ulcers, Duodenal
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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