[Barium peritonitis caused by perforation of the colon and rectum]

Over the period from 1979 to 1988 the authors treated three patients with perforated colon and rectum, manifested during contrast barium X-ray examination. Perforation of the caecum occurred in one patient; perforation of the sigmoid flexure in the second subject and perforation of the ampulla recti in the third patient. Caecum perforation was spontaneous, and that of the rectum and the sigmoid flexure wall was due to rigid catheter during irigography. The patients were two women and one man. The youngest patient was 50 years old and the oldest was aged 75 years. Surgery of the perforated caecum and ampulla recti was carried out during the first 24 hours, and that of the sigmoid flexure on the seventh day. The following radical operations were performed: the right hemicholoctomy, sigmoid resection with temporary cholostoma, rectum amputation, manyfold drainage of abdominal cavity. Antibodies were also administered. One patient died.