Short-course high-dose ibuprofen causing both early and delayed jejunal perforations in a non-smoking man

Description

A 48-year-old non-smoking man underwent laparotomy for peritonitis immediately after taking ibuprofen 800 mg 6 hourly for 14 days for back pain. His only other medication was long-term omeprazole 20 mg per day. At operation he had three separate perforations in his proximal jejunum. Fifteen centimetres of jejunum were resected with primary anastomosis. Histology showed focal mucosal ischaemic changes with normal mucosa between. There was no vasculitis. The perforations were attributed to ibuprofen intake. He made an uneventful recovery and was instructed to refrain from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake.

He was readmitted 5 months later with abdominal pain. He had continued omeprazole but had taken no further NSAID. CT showed extensive free intra-abdominal fluid with free gas adjacent to his proximal jejunum (figure 1), indicating a further perforation. This was confirmed at laparotomy when a 5 mm perforated ulcer was found in his proximal jejunum (figure...

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