Gastrointestinal perforation

Gastrointestinal Perforation

Gastrointestinal perforation (pronounced: gas-tro-in-tes-ti-nal per-fo-ra-tion), also known as rupture of the gut wall, is a serious medical condition where a hole forms all the way through the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine.

Etymology

The term "gastrointestinal" is derived from the Greek words "gaster" (stomach) and "enteron" (intestine). "Perforation" comes from the Latin "perforare", meaning to bore or pierce through.

Definition

Gastrointestinal perforation can occur due to a variety of reasons, including peptic ulcer disease, appendicitis, diverticulitis, certain inflammatory bowel diseases, trauma, or cancer. It can lead to the contents of the gut spilling into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis, a severe infection that can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Symptoms of gastrointestinal perforation may include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and a rapid heart rate. In some cases, the patient may go into shock due to sepsis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is typically made through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies such as X-ray or CT scan. Blood tests may also be used to check for signs of infection or inflammation.

Treatment

Treatment for gastrointestinal perforation usually involves surgery to repair the hole. Antibiotics are also given to treat the infection. In severe cases, part of the affected gut may need to be removed.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Gastrointestinal perforation
Wikipedia's article - Gastrointestinal perforation

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Gastrointestinal perforation