Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five holy pillars in the Islamic faith and is an important annual ritual practiced by all Muslims. This involves fasting from dawn to dusk, followed by a break of fast at designated times. The length of fasting varies from ten to 19 hours, depending on the season in which the fasting month of Ramadan falls and the geographical locations.
OBJECTIVE:
1st to evaluate the relation between Ramadan fasting & duodenal ulcer perforations & 2nd to asses the risk factors of this complications .
PATIENTS & METHODS :
This is a prospective study in Baghdad Teaching Hospital – Medical City . Data from 231 consecutive patients with perforated duodenal ulcer from the period of October 2007 to December 2010 were collected & analyzed & all the patients were managed surgically after resuscitation in emergency unit .
RESULTS :
(96/231, 41.6%) of patients with perforated duodenal ulcer during Ramadan vs. (135/231, 58.4%) during the rest of the years . (96/490, 19.5%) of patients with perforated duodenal ulcer from the total number of all patients with acute abdomeninal surgeries during Ramadan. 43 % of patients smoking & 47 % of patients had a previous history of acid peptic disease in Ramadan. 54 % of patients were in between (20 to 40) years age group and the male to female ratio was 6 :1 . 15% patients of perforated duodenal ulcer had history of regular use of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs.. Erect chest x-ray demonstrated gas under the diaphragm in 86% . Only 2 patients had a previous surgery of duodenal ulcer perforation .
CONCLUSION:
This study suggests that the incidence of duodenal ulcer perforation is relatively high in Ramadan among the people, who are fasting & have predisposing factors ( smoking , history of acid peptic disease , non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ) and need special precaution during this month