intestinal perforation

intestinal perforation

Etymology: L, intestinum + perforare, to pierce

the escape of digestive tract contents into the peritoneal cavity as the result of trauma or a disease condition such as a ruptured appendix or perforated ulcer. The condition inevitably leads to peritonitis.

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perforation

a hole or break in the containing walls or membranes of an organ or structure of the body. Perforation occurs when erosion, infection or other factors create a weak spot in the organ and internal pressure causes a rupture. It also may result from a deep penetrating wound caused by trauma.

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bladder perforation

usually the result of obstructive urolithiasis with eventual leakage of urine into the peritoneal cavity. See also congenital urinary bladder rupture.

eardrum perforation

occurs when an infectious process erodes the tympanic membrane or leads to increased pressure in the middle ear.

esophageal perforation

causes local cellulitis and obstruction of the esophagus.

gallbladder perforation

sometimes occurs as a complication of cholecystitis and gallstones. When the gallbladder is infected, necrosis may progress to the point of destroying the wall so that the bile spills out into the abdominal cavity causing biliary peritonitis.

intestinal perforation

a complication of ulcerative colitis (see colitis), intestinal obstruction, ulceration and other disorders in which there is inflammation of the intestinal wall or obstruction of the intestinal lumen.

ulcer perforation

a complication of duodenal and gastric ulcers. It requires immediate surgical correction to prevent hemorrhage, shock and peritonitis.

urethral perforation

is usually a result of obstructive urolithiasis; urine collects in a ventral subcutaneous site.

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intestinal perforation

Gastrointestinal perforation Surgery The loss of integrity of the bowel wall which may be due to trauma–eg, shotgun blast to abdomen or ischemic breakdown of intestinal wall. See Fecal peritonitis.