What is a common complication in patients with untreated peptic ulcers?

In the context of untreated peptic ulcers, perforation is a significant complication that can arise. Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine, and when these ulcers progress or are not addressed, they can erode through the gastric or intestinal wall. This perforation results in the contents of the gastrointestinal tract leaking into the abdominal cavity, leading to a condition that can cause peritonitis, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection.

Perforation typically presents with sudden, severe abdominal pain and requires immediate medical intervention, often necessitating surgical repair. The presence of perforation underscores the importance of diagnosing and treating peptic ulcers before they reach such a critical state, which can lead to widespread abdominal inflammation and sepsis.

In contrast, while other complications like intestinal obstruction may occur due to scarring or inflammation from chronic ulcers, they are not as immediately life-threatening as perforation. Additionally, hematochezia, which refers to the passage of fresh blood per rectum, may also occur in the context of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers, but it does not carry the same immediate urgency. Appendicitis, however, is unrelated to peptic ulcers and is a separate condition entirely.