What is the recovery/survival rate like for a perforated ulcer victim?

Depends on health: Survival after perforation is highly dependent on overall health, age, coexistent conditions, and condition at presentation. If the patient is healthy, has recent duodenal ulcer perforation with little soilage of the abdomen, the repair should be quite successful. However an elderly patient with perforation from cancer with multiple problems and delayed diagnosis and peritonitis is high risk.

A lot depends on: Other co-morbid factors and the type of operation that was needed, assuming that you are talking about perforated duodenal ulcer. If the person is otherwise healthy and an extensive resection was not necessary, then prognosis is very good. Ask the surgeon for specific details.