Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
05:43
Topical Airway Anesthesia for Awake-endoscopic Intubation Using the Spray-as-you-go Technique with High Oxygen Flow
Published on: January 13, 2017
[Cocaine-related gastric perforation]
1St. Josefs Hospital Dortmund-Süd, Abteilung für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Unfallchirurgie, Darmzentrum Ruhr, Dortmund, Deutschland. andrej.ring@ruhr-unibochum.de
Zentralblatt Fur Chirurgie
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Cocaine abuse is linked to gastroduodenal perforations. This case highlights a young man
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Cocaine abuse has been associated with gastroduodenal perforations in the United States since the 1980s.
- The mechanism linking cocaine use to gastrointestinal complications is not fully understood but may involve vasoconstriction and ischemia.
Observation:
- A 28-year-old man presented with severe abdominal pain after smoking cocaine.
- Physical examination revealed generalized abdominal guarding, and initial X-ray showed no free intraperitoneal air.
- Laboratory tests indicated a slightly elevated white blood cell count.
Findings:
- Laparoscopic exploration identified generalized peritonitis secondary to a perforation of the prepyloric anterior wall.
- Surgical intervention included ulcer excision, primary closure, pyloroplasty, and extensive abdominal irrigation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the severe gastrointestinal complications associated with cocaine abuse.
- It emphasizes the importance of considering substance abuse in patients presenting with acute abdominal conditions.
- Further research into the pathophysiology of cocaine-induced gastroduodenal injury is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
Esophageal perforation is a severe medical condition characterized by a breach in the integrity of the esophageal wall. This breach can occur due to various factors such as trauma, medical procedures, or underlying diseases. When the esophageal wall is compromised, it allows food, fluids, and digestive juices into the chest cavity or adjacent structures, leading to potential complications and health risks.
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
01:28Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Esophageal perforations manifest in various clinical forms, influenced by factors such as the perforation's cause and location (cervical, intrathoracic, or intra-abdominal), the extent of contamination, and potential injury to adjacent mediastinal structures. The timing between the perforation occurrence and treatment initiation also affects the clinical presentation.
Clinical Manifestations:
Clinical Manifestations:
01:07Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology
Intestinal obstruction triggers a series of physiological responses, starting with gas and fluid accumulation in the bowel segment proximal to the obstruction, leading to distension. This distended intestine compresses the diaphragm, hindering lung expansion and potentially leading to reduced respiratory effort, atelectasis, and pneumonia.To overcome the blockage, the gut intensifies contractions, causing colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, which reduces fluid and food intake and...
01:11Pyloric Obstruction
Pyloric obstruction, also referred to as gastric outlet obstruction, is a condition characterized by narrowing or blockage at the pylorus—the muscular valve regulating the flow of stomach contents into the duodenum. When this passage becomes impaired, the stomach cannot effectively empty its contents into the small intestine. This disruption leads to a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including early satiety, bloating, epigastric pain, postprandial nausea, persistent vomiting, and...
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
01:27Peptic Ulcer
Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...