Intestinal perforation is a through violation of the walls of the colon or small intestine. As a result of such a deformation, the contents of the organ penetrate into the abdominal cavity. A similar phenomenon is called perforation. Such a violation relates to surgical diseases.
The main causes
Intestinal perforation is a disorder that itself does not occur. There are a number of main reasons that contribute to the deformation of the small or large intestine. This list includes:
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Diverticulum of the colon.
- Fecal stones.
- Necrosis of neoplasms formed on the colon.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Gangrenous appendicitis, which provokes the collapse of the tissues of the appendix.
- Some infections, such as tuberculosis or cytomegalovirus infection.
- Open and closed injuries.
These are the main factors that result in intestinal perforation. The causes of damage to the walls of the small or large intestine may be other. Tissue rupture often occurs as a result of the ingestion of sharp homogeneous bodies into the gastrointestinal tract: pins, needles, toothpicks, fish and meat bones.
Causes of intestinal perforation in newborns
Intestinal perforation in some cases occurs in newborns. Perforation in infants may be due to processes such as:
- Intrauterine hypoxia, which is prolonged.
- Delayed development of certain systems.
- Enteral feeding of the baby.
- Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, obstruction.
- Surgical intervention.
Punctures in newborns are isolated cases. Several gaps are extremely rare. As statistics show, in girls intestinal perforation is twice as rare as in boys.
Intestinal perforation: symptoms
Perforation has specific symptoms. Signs of a break cannot be absent. The main sign of perforation is severe pain in the abdomen, which is accompanied by tension in muscle tissue. On palpation, the feeling of discomfort intensifies. There are other signs of intestinal perforation:
- Frequent urge to defecate.
- Bloating.
- Rapid pulse.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Oligulation.
- Increase in body temperature to 39 ° C.
- Slow or knocked out breath. When the diaphragm is reduced, severe pain occurs.
Colonoscopy tissue breakthrough
When examining the colon with a special probe, intestinal perforation can occur. This phenomenon can be explained as follows:
- Removal of polyps - polyectamia. If this procedure is inaccurate, severe tissue burn may occur. It is in this place that a breakthrough is formed. In rare cases, damage to the walls of the intestine occurs during the operation. The first signs of malaise appear only after a few days.
- Excess insufflation - the introduction of a powdered drug when injuring tissues with a colonoscope. Wall rupture occurs during the operation. The first signs of intestinal perforation appear immediately. Punctures in this case can be large.
Diagnosis of intestinal perforation
The localization of the abscess during intestinal perforation is determined by abdominal wall palpation. The gap is located in the place where the patient feels severe pain when touched. For diagnosis, usually not only digital research is used, but also computed tomography and radiography. In some cases, it is not so easy to establish the cause of the discomfort in the abdomen. Perforation is difficult to diagnose in patients:
- Having undergone surgery related to organ transplantation.
- Taking chemotherapeutic drugs.
Abdominal pain in such patients is a common occurrence. An accurate diagnosis requires a computer scan. Any perforation of the intestine requires immediate surgical intervention. An exception is those cases when the contents of the small or large intestine penetrate the vagina and bladder. In this case, the patient may experience gas and fecal discharge during urination.
Treatment methods
Intestinal perforation is treated only by surgical intervention. It is not recommended to start the process, as this can lead to serious consequences. A patient with obvious signs of intestinal perforation is immediately hospitalized and surgery is performed as soon as possible.
Doctors should be quick, but accurate. With such deformations of the intestinal tissues, one cannot delay, as irreversible processes can begin in the patient's body .
Most often, patients undergo laparoscopy. In addition, concomitant therapy of anxiety symptoms, such as heart failure, is performed. A routine examination is allowed in cases where the contents of the intestine have penetrated into the bladder or vagina.
Experts do not recommend delaying a visit to a doctor. It is impossible to cure intestinal perforation at home. Please note that perforation can lead to death of the patient. Indeed, a few hours after the appearance of an opening in the colon or small intestine, gangrene begins - necrosis of organs and tissues.