Abstract
Colonic perforation following mild abdominal trauma in patients with Crohn's disease is a rare occurrence. We present a case of a 21 year old Crohn's sufferer, who presented to the emergency department with signs of shock and peritonitis following minor abdominal trauma. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed ascending colonic perforation and he underwent a subsequent right hemicolectomy. This is the first UK report of a patient with inflammatory bowel disease suffering colonic perforation following minimal trauma.
Highlights
Inflammatory bowel disease is not uncommonly encountered by the general surgeon
Perforation of the colon during colonoscopy is well recognised in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, yet there is very little in the literature on colonic perforation after minimal abdominal trauma
Blood test showed mildly raised inflammatory markers and an erect chest x-ray showed no convincing evidence of pneumoperitoneum
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease is not uncommonly encountered by the general surgeon. Surgeons are normally asked for input in patients who have failed medical therapy or are suffering with complications of the disease, such as fistulation, toxic megacolon or abscess formation.Perforation is unusual in Crohn's patients, with a reported incidence of 1–2% during the course of the illness [1]. Inflammatory bowel disease is not uncommonly encountered by the general surgeon. Surgeons are normally asked for input in patients who have failed medical therapy or are suffering with complications of the disease, such as fistulation, toxic megacolon or abscess formation. Perforation is unusual in Crohn's patients, with a reported incidence of 1–2% during the course of the illness [1]. He developed abdominal pain and was brought to hospital.
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