[Non-traumatic perforations of the small intestine]

A series of 23 patients is reviewed admitted to our hospital for non traumatic perforation of the small intestine, a condition found very rarely as a cause of acute abdominal disease. The causes were primary small bowel neoplasia (four patients), adhesions (five patients), intraluminal foreign bodies (two patients), small bowel metastases (two patients), diverticulum (two patients). In seven patients a perforation was found that was neither related to any gross alterations of the bowel wall nor was specifically distinguished in histology. For the latter group, the possible role of local drug toxicity, especially of potassium chloride, is discussed.