Gastrointestinal perforation is a hole that passes through the entire wall of the stomach, small intestine or large bowel. This condition is a medical emergency.
Alternative Names:
Intestinal perforation; Perforation of the intestines
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Gastrointestinal perforation can be caused by a variety of illnesses, including appendicitis, diverticulitis, ulcer disease, Crohn's disease, and less commonly, infections of the bowel, such as infectious colitis.
Perforation of the intestine leads to leakage of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity. This causes an inflammation called peritonitis.
Symptoms:
Symptoms may include:
Severe abdominal pain
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Signs and tests:
X-rays of the abdomen may show air in the abdominal cavity, suggesting a perforation. CT scan of the abdomen often shows the location of the perforation. The person's white blood cell (WBC) count is often higher than normal.
Review Date: 7/14/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Gastroenterology
