A life threatening complication after colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a widely used diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. The procedure is usually well tolerated, with less than 0.5% of patients developing bowel perforation. Perforation usually manifests soon after the procedure with generalised abdominal pain. The case of a near fatal complication a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBMJ. British medical journal (International ed.) Vol. 330; no. 7496; p. 889
Main Authors Janes, Simon E J, Cowan, Ian A, Dijkstra, Birgit
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London BMJ Publishing Group 16.04.2005
EditionInternational edition
Subjects
Case studies
Colon
Pain
Surgery
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Summary:Colonoscopy is a widely used diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. The procedure is usually well tolerated, with less than 0.5% of patients developing bowel perforation. Perforation usually manifests soon after the procedure with generalised abdominal pain. The case of a near fatal complication after colonoscopy is presented in which initial features suggested bowel perforation but further investigation showed an unsuspected cause that necessitated urgent surgery.
ISSN:0959-8146