Boey Score in Predicting Mortality in Patients with Perforated Peptic Ulcer

Abstract

Background: A number of prognostic factors for morbidity and mortality following perforated peptic ulcer have been reported, but the most well known is Boey’s score which is simple with a high predictive value.

Aim: The aim of this study was to predict mortality in patients with perforated peptic ulcer using the Boey’s score.

Patients and Methods: This was a prospective study of all consecutive adult patients from the age of 18 years and above with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer perforation that had open surgery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria over a year period from September 2009 to August 2010. A data form was opened for all the patients at presentation. Data collated were subsequently analyzed.

Results: Twenty-six patients had peptic ulcer perforation; 20 were males while six were females with a male to female ratio of 3:1. The average age of the patients was 53.2 ± 19.1 years with age range of 27-92 years. All the patients had laparotomy with simple closure of the perforation and omental patch. None of the patients had a definitive ulcer surgery. There was no case of leak from the closed perforation and no case of recurrence over a year follow-up. Five patients died, giving an overall mortality of 19% while 21 were well and discharged.

Conclusion: Increasing Boey’s score though associated with mortality in this study is not statistically significant (P > 0.05) in predicting mortality.

Keywords: Boey’s score, perforated peptic ulcer, mortality.