Can intestines burst

Conditions that may cause a perforation include:. The most common trauma that causes a perforated bowel occurs during abdominal surgery, when the surgeon may accidentally nick or cut the bowel and not notice it. Occasionally, a rupture or perforation may happen following bowel surgery, because the stitches or staples used to close the bowel come undone.

The signs and symptoms of a perforated GI tract come on gradually, getting worse, although they might not be too noticeable at first. They may include:. A perforation anywhere in the GI tract is a medical emergency. The emergency room doctor will order x-rays and perhaps a computed tomography scan CT scan. Blood tests look for signs of infection and blood loss from the perforation. Surgery is usually performed to repair a GI perforation, particularly if it is in the bowel.

Rarely, the doctor may prefer to take a wait-and-see approach, to see if the hole will repair itself. Meanwhile, the sepsis caused by the infection must be treated quickly with antibiotics and fluids.

In some cases, the surgeon must perform a colostomy or ileostomy. This surgery allows the contents of your intestines to empty into a bag, through a stoma, a hole created in your abdomen. The colostomy or ileostomy may be temporary, allowing the rest of your intestines to heal.

You would then go for a second surgery so your surgeon can reattach your intestines, so you no longer need to eliminate your waste through the stoma. In other cases, the surgery is permanent. Beers, M. Merck Manual Professional Edition. Ansari P. Perforation of the digestive tract. Merck Manual Home Edition. Azer SA. Medscape Reference: Intestinal Perforation. National Cancer Institute.

Evolution of imaging for abdominal perforation. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Oncologic emergencies. Holland Frei Cancer Medicine. People's Medical Publishing House; Our enewsletter.

Most cases of gastrointestinal perforation require emergency treatment. The situation is particularly urgent if a person has symptoms of sepsis, which is life-threatening.

This will usually involve an exploratory laparotomy. This helps to treat the peritonitis and prevent sepsis. For some people, it may be necessary to remove part of the intestine. This can lead to a person needing a colostomy or ileostomy. On rare occasions, a gastrointestinal perforation may heal on its own and not require surgery. If this occurs, a course of antibiotics may be the only treatment. Possible complications of gastrointestinal perforation include internal bleeding and sepsis.

Gastrointestinal perforation can also lead to abdominal abscesses or permanent bowel damage. It may even cause part of the bowel to die. Certain lifestyle factors may increase the risk of this, including smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and obesity.

Gastrointestinal perforation is a serious condition with many different causes, some of which are more preventable than others. If a person has any of the illnesses that may lead to gastrointestinal perforation, they should follow the treatment plan that their doctor advises.

This reduces the risk of developing the condition. The size of the hole and the length of time before treatment may determine how successfully surgeons can repair the perforation. This will, in turn, affect the recovery. Gastritis is a widespread condition where the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed.

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