Iatrogenic duodenal perforation treated with endoscopic placement of metallic clips: a case report

Perforation is one of the major complications encountered during endoscopic procedures. The standard of care for these complications is either surgical intervention or nonoperative medical approach with antibiotics and bowel rest with or without parenteral alimentation. Metallic clips, initially developed to secure hemostasis in bleeding, have been successfully used to close perforations in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) including the duodenum. This avoids perioperative morbidities associated with surgical intervention while limiting the leakage of intestinal contents and peritoneal contamination that is possible with medical management. We present a case of a patient with a lateral duodenal perforation during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) which was successfully treated with immediate placement of metallic endoclips.