Gastrointestinal perforation overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohammed Abdelwahed M.D[2]
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Gastrointestinal perforation Microchapters |
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Differentiating gastrointestinal perforation from other diseases |
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Overview
Pathophysiology of gastrointestinal perforation
Perforation is full-thickness injury of the bowel wall. Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract can be due to many causes but main causes are instrumentation during surgery or bowel obstruction. Spontaneous perforation can be caused by inflammation, connective tissue disorders, and medications. Terminal ileum is the commonest site for spontaneous perforation and may be the jejunum and colon. In neonatal perforation, the terminal ileum and colon are the commonest sites for perforation. The pathogenesis of NEC remains unknown but there are many factors for infection such as: Ninety percent of NEC cases occur in preterm infants due to immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract. Preterm infants have lower concentrations or more immature function of contributing mucosal defense factors than do term infants and adults. Regarding anatomy of GIT, the esophagus travels 3 regions of the body: the neck, thorax, and abdomen. Accordingly, it is divided into 3 parts: cervical, thoracic, and abdominal. The body of the stomach leads to the pyloric antrum, which joins the duodenum at the pylorus, lying at the L1-L2 level to the right of the midline. Duodenum is about 20–25 cm long which receives chymefrom the stomach, together with pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes and bile from the gall bladder. The large intestine is further divided into cecum, appendix, ascending colon, right colic flexure, transverse colon, left colic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum,and anus.
Gastrointestinal perforation history and symptoms
History of recent instrumentation, surgery, or ingested foreign bodies is usually related to gastrointestinal tract (GIT) perforation. Main symptoms are pains in chest or abdomen, abdominal mass, dysphagia, fistula formation, or sepsis. Diverticulitis is the most common etiology leading to intra-abdominal abscess formation. Patients who develop an external fistula will complain of the sudden appearance of drainage from a postoperative wound, or from the abdominal wall or perineum in the case of spontaneous fistulas.
Gastrointestinal perforation physical examination
Patients may appear tired, weak, diaphoretic and anxious especially if sepsis developed. Tachycardia and rapid weak pulse may develop if sepsis developed. In esophageal perforation, asymmetric chest expansion/ decreased chest expansion may develop. Abdominal distention, tenderness, guarding or mass may develop in intestinal perforation. Infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation present with an acute onset of abdominal distension and hypotension. Abdominal distention usually occurs without the abdominal wall erythema, crepitus, and induration commonly seen in patients with necrotitzing enterocolitis.
Gastrointestinal perforation laboratory findings
Laboratory studies for gastrointestinal perforation include Complete blood count, electrolytes, liver function tests, and renal function tests.
Gastrointestinal perforation x-ray
X-ray may be useful to diagnose gut perforation. Findings of chest x-ray in esophageal perforation include Pneumomediastinum, ring-around-the-artery sign in cases of pneumomediastinum, and widening of the mediastinum. Findings of abdominal x-ray in esophageal perforation include free gas under the diaphragm is a classic sign of pneumoperitoneum on erect chest, cupola sign is an arcuate lucency over the lower thoracic spine, and rigler sign is seen as gas outlines the inner and outer surfaces of the intestine. Signs of perforation on plain neck imaging include subcutaneous emphysema tracking into the neck, anterior displacement of the trachea, and air in the prevertebral fascial planes on lateral view.
Gastrointestinal perforation CT
Chest computed tomography (CT) is done when fluoroscopy is equivocal, and there is persisting suspicion of perforation. Signs of perforation on abdominal CT scanning include extraluminal oral contrast, free fluid or food collections, discontinuity of the intestinal wall, localized peritoneal fat stranding, and Bowel wall thickening.
Gastrointestinal perforation MRI
Abdominal and chest MRI may be useful to diagnose gastrointestinal perforation. It shows the same imaging signs of CT.
Gastrointestinal perforation echocardiography or ultrasound
There are no echocardiography or ultrasound findings associated with gastrointestinal perforation.
Gastrointestinal perforation other imaging findings
Esophageal fluoroscopy is most sensitive within the first 24 hours. Small bowel follow through is inferior to CT of the abdomen and pelvis with oral contrast for detection and localization of small bowel perforation.
Gastrointestinal perforation other diagnostic studies
Endoscopy can be used to evaluate patients with suspected esophageal perforation. CT is obtained first because it is non-invasive and sensitive.
Medical therapy
Initial management of the patient with gastrointestinal perforation includes intravenous fluid therapy and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Patients with intestinal perforation can have severe volume depletion. The administration of intravenous proton pump inhibitors. Electrolyte abnormalities correction especially metabolic alkalosis if fistula developed. The severity of any electrolyte abnormalities depends upon the nature and volume of material leaking from the gastrointestinal tract. Intravenous vasopressors are useful in patients who remain hypotensive despite adequate fluid resuscitation or who develop cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Norepinephrine is the first-line single agent in septic shock. The addition of a second or third agent to norepinephrine may be required.
Surgery
Surgery is the mainstay therapy for gastrointestinal tract (GIT) perforation. The main indications are abdominal sepsis, worsening abdominal pain, signs of diffuse peritonitis, complete bowel obstruction, bowel ischemia. In esophageal perforation, surgical options include primary repair, repair over a drain. Primary repair is the best procedure for thoracic esophageal rupture. It is performed when the closure can heal. Endoscopically-placed-stents can be used to manage some patients with esophageal perforation. In perforated stomach, if the patient is unstable or deteriorating, urgent operation and closure with a piece of omentum is the standard of care. If the patient is stable or improving, nonoperative management with close monitoring is a reasonable option. If patients did not show clinical improvement after 24 hours, surgery was performed. In colonic resection, A one-stage colon resection for diverticulitis can be performed open or laparoscopically. The laparoscopic approach is preferred when feasible. A two-stage procedure is primarily used for patients with Hinchey III or IV diverticulitis, and for those with Hinchey I or II diverticulitis who have excessive contamination or inflammation of the surrounding tissues or other risk factors for anastomotic leakage. In perforated appendix, stable patients with perforated appendicitis who have symptoms localized to the right lower quadrant can be treated with immediate appendectomy or initial nonoperative management. Patients with an appendiceal abscess should be treated with intravenous antibiotics and percutaneous image-guided drainage. For patients who are septic or unstable, and for those who have a free perforation of the appendix or generalized peritonitis, emergency appendectomy is required.
Gastrointestinal perforation primary prevention
There is no specific primary prevention associated with gastrointestinal perforation.
Gastrointestinal perforation secondary prevention
There is no specific secondary prevention associated with gastrointestinal perforation.