How does a perforated colon happen

Home Treatments Side effects Bowel perforation. Bowel perforation. A bowel perforation is a serious condition that needs to be treated right away. A bowel perforation can be caused by: a tumour that grows through the wall of the intestine a tumour in the wall of the intestine that quickly shrinks during chemotherapy, leaving a hole radiation therapy to the pelvis or abdomen, which can weaken the muscle wall of the intestine and cause a hole to form a blockage of the small intestine or colon called a bowel obstruction some chemotherapy drugs, including bevacizumab Avastin , imatinib Gleevec , temsirolimus Torisel and sorafenib Nexavar non-cancerous diseases accidents In rare cases, surgery or an endoscopy can make a hole in the intestine.

Symptoms of a bowel perforation include: sudden and severe abdominal pain nausea and vomiting fever chills swelling and bloating of the abdomen Tell your doctor or healthcare team right away if you have these symptoms. The healthcare team will give you antibiotics to treat or lower the risk of infection. References Ansari P. Acute Perforation. Beers, M. Merck Manual Professional Edition. Ansari P. Perforation of the digestive tract. Merck Manual Home Edition.

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Causes and treatment of gastrointestinal perforation. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Overview Causes Symptoms When to see a doctor Diagnosis Treatment Complications Outlook The gastrointestinal tract consists of the stomach, small intestine, and large bowel. What is gastrointestinal perforation? Share on Pinterest Gastrointestinal perforation may lead to further complications. Share on Pinterest Severe abdominal pain and tenderness are symptoms of gastrointestinal perforation.

When to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest Gastrointestinal perforation can cause peritonitis and sepsis so emergency care is essential. Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What are the causes and symptoms of chronic gastritis?

Tips for better digestion - how long does it take? Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. Everything you need to know about peritonitis. Pain often worsens when someone touches or palpates the area or when the patient moves.

Pain is generally better when lying still. The abdomen may stick outward farther than normal and feel hard. Smoking and excessive use of alcohol increase your risk of GP.

Rarely, the condition may occur due to bowel injuries from an endoscopy or colonoscopy. To diagnose GP, your doctor will likely take X-rays of your chest or abdomen to check for air in the abdominal cavity.

They may also perform a CT scan to get a better idea where the perforation might be. In most cases, surgery is necessary to close the hole and treat the condition. The goals of the surgery are to:. In rare cases, your doctor may forgo surgery and prescribe antibiotics alone if the hole closed on its own. Sometimes, a piece of the intestine will need removal.

The removal of a portion of either the small or large intestine may result in a colostomy or ileostomy , which allows intestinal contents to drain or empty into a bag attached to your abdominal wall. Wound failure may occur in some cases. Factors that increase the risk of this include:. The success of surgery to repair a perforation depends on the size of the perforation or hole and the length of time before treatment.

The chances of recovery improve with early diagnosis and treatment. Factors that can hinder treatment include:. The sooner you see your doctor, the better your outlook will be. There are many causes of GP. For example, an underlying gastrointestinal disease can increase your risk for perforation.

Get to know your medical history and seek information on the current conditions that might increase your risk. Speak to a doctor if you experience any significant change from your normal state, especially if you have abdominal pain and fever.