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Uncovering the Mystery of Intestinal Perforations: Why a Small Hole Can Be Deadly?
Intestinal perforation, commonly known as intestinal rupture, refers to a hole in the intestinal wall. The intestines consist of a series of hollow digestive organs that extend from the mouth to the anus. Its harm is often ignored by people. However, when obvious symptoms such as acute abdominal pain and vomiting appear, the patient's life safety may have been threatened. Not only is the integrity of the intestine perforated, it may also cause a series of complications, making the situation worse.
Symptoms and signs
Intestinal perforation usually results in severe abdominal pain that quickly spreads throughout the abdomen.
Patients typically experience early symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood, and rapid heartbeat. As the condition worsens, patients may develop fever and chills. During the examination, the medical staff will notice that the abdomen is tight and tender. Over time, bowel movement decreases and the abdomen becomes distended and silent.
Complications
The hole in the intestine allows intestinal contents to enter the abdominal cavity, which may lead to peritonitis or abscess formation.
After infection, patients may develop sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection that is often accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, fever, and confusion. Severe cases may progress to multiple organ dysfunction, even including acute respiratory and renal failure, and the risk is extremely high.
Cause
Intestinal perforation is mainly due to the damaged permeability of the intestinal wall, causing full-thickness damage. This can be due to a variety of factors including direct mechanical injury, infection, inflammation, or intestinal obstruction.
Trauma or accidental perforation
For example, penetrating trauma such as sharp objects or gunshot wounds can pierce the intestinal wall; accidents such as car accidents may instantly increase the pressure inside the intestinal tract, leading to rupture. In addition, certain medical procedures such as upper endoscopy and colonoscopy may rarely cause perforation.
Infection or inflammation
In conditions such as appendicitis and diverticulitis, small tube-like areas in the intestines become inflamed and may rupture. Various infections such as C. difficile infection may also cause full-thickness tears in the intestinal wall.
Intestinal obstruction
Blockage in the intestines can prevent food from passing through normally, causing pressure to build up, which can lead to ischemia and rupture. This condition can sometimes occur due to scar tissue from surgery, intestinal torsion, hernia, or tumors.
Diagnosis
Holes in the intestines can allow gas to leak into the abdominal cavity, and the gas may be visible under the diaphragm on a chest X-ray.
While X-rays can quickly screen for perforations, abdominal CT scans can more sensitively establish the diagnosis and identify underlying causes. If the imaging tests still show normal results, the doctor may need to perform an open abdomen or laparoscopy to obtain further information.
Treatment
Intestinal perforations almost always require surgery to remove dead tissue and close the perforation. During surgery, peritoneal irrigation may be performed and drains placed to control potential fluid accumulation. Some patients who are stable and have a small, closed perforation may only need conservative treatment.
Conclusion
In summary, intestinal perforation is a fatal and acute condition, the consequences of which are often unbearable for patients. Paying attention to gut health and early diagnosis are key to avoiding major complications. Have you ever wondered how much you know about gut health and how you respond when you experience abdominal discomfort?
