What Is a Peptic Ulcer?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
9. Complications
In most cases, peptic ulcers are at least manageable and will cause limited, if any, symptoms. Even when they do become very uncomfortable, they are still not usually a threat. They do become very serious in a small number of cases, however, and they can pose a threat to the patient’s life.
One such complication is a gastric obstruction, which means that food is being blocked by the ulcer. Excessive bleeding can become dangerous for the patient, while in some cases the ulcer can be torn open in what is known as a perforation. If any of these conditions are suspected then the patient should be found emergency medical assistance.
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