<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic><bold>Background.</bold> Rectal injuries during barium-enema are rare but life-threatening complications.</italic><italic><bold>Case report.</bold> We present a case of an 82-year-old man in whom extensive retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum occurred during double-contrast barium-enema examination. The patient was revealed acute abdomen, difficulty in breathing and diffuse subcutaneous crepitus at the chest and neck area. The patient underwent a surgery because signs of peritonitis developed. We performed a Hartmann's procedure. The patient died 20 hours after the surgery due to a septic shock.</italic><italic><bold>Conclusions.</bold> Prompt recognition and management of retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum are sine qua non in decreasing mortality.</italic></abstract>

Background. Rectal injuries during barium-enema are rare but life-threatening complications.Case report. We present a case of an 82-year-old man in whom extensive retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum occurred during double-contrast barium-enema examination. The patient was revealed acute abdomen, difficulty in breathing and diffuse subcutaneous crepitus at the chest and neck area. The patient underwent a surgery because signs of peritonitis developed. We performed a Hartmann's procedure. The patient died 20 hours after the surgery due to a septic shock.Conclusions. Prompt recognition and management of retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum are sine qua non in decreasing mortality.

Retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum during double-contrast barium-enema examination: a life-threatening complication

Department of Surgery, Izmir Bozyaka Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

Department of Radiology, Izmir Bozyaka Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

Radiology and Oncology

Background. Rectal injuries during barium-enema are rare but life-threatening complications.Case report. We present a case of an 82-year-old man in whom...

Retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum during double-contrast barium-enema examination: a life-threatening complication

Published Online: Mar 20, 2009

Page range: 26 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-009-0010-3

Keywords
rectal perforation, barium-enema

This content is open access.

Retroperitoneal perforation of the rectum during double-contrast barium-enema examination: a life-threatening complication

Published Online: Mar 20, 2009

Page range: 26 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-009-0010-3

Keywordsrectal perforation, barium-enema

This content is open access.

Keywords
rectal perforation, barium-enema