Colon Perforation by Compressed Air: A Case Report and Short Review of Literature

Barotrauma-associated perforation of the colon is not common and usually occurs due to the passage of compressed air through the anus. Most of the cases are accidental and done for fun often at the victim's workplace. Therefore, it is necessary that the workers should be made aware of the dangers of the equipment they regularly use at their workplace. Here, we describe one such case where a rice mill worker died when compressed air through an air pump pipe entered his rectum. His chief complaint was abdominal pain and breathing difficulty. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and thorax showed pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and soft tissue emphysema. There was a complete tear in the rectosigmoid junction of the colon. The mucosa was deeply hemorrhagic and congested. Histopathology of this segment showed hemorrhagic necrosis of the mucosa.