An Aged Case Who Experienced Idiopathic Perforation of the Colon Twice

• Published in: Nippon Shokaki Geka Gakkai zasshi Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 663 - 667
• Main Authors: Karube, Hideaki, Masuda, Hideki, Nakamura, Youichi, Aoki, Nobuhiko, Nakayama, Hisashi, Sato, Fumii, Aizaki, Kazuo, Mita, Satomi, Henmi, Akihiro, Iwai, Shigetomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery 2000
• Subjects: aged patients; idiopathic perforation of the colon; perforated peritonitis
• ISSN: 0386-9768; 1348-9372
• DOI: 10.5833/jjgs.33.663

It has been said that idiopathic perforation of the colon is rare and has a relatively poor prognosis. The patient in this case report was an 84-year-old woman who experienced an idiopathic perforation of the colon 2 years ago, and who underwent Hartmann's procedure. Now, at the age of 84, she was again admitted to a neighboring hospital, and was diagnosed with peritonitis. She was admitted to our hospital, with a blood pressure of 78/48 mmHg. Since abdominal plain radiography and CT examination indicated the free-air sign in the abdominal cavity, she underwent an emergency operation for intestinal perforation. At laparotomy, a perforation 3 cm in diameter was observed on the oral side 8 cm from the colostomy. Pathological diagnosis, was idiopathic perforation. We emphasize that early diagnosis and treatment are very important in cases with idiopathic perforation of the colon, particularly cases with advanced age.