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Rectal perforation after barium enema: A case report.
Josiana de Oliveira Martins Duarte1, Paula Maria Lobato Pestana Pereira2, Ana Sofia Gonçalves Sobral1
1Internal Medicine Service Hospital Litoral Alentejano Santiago Do Cacém Portugal.
Clinical Case Reports
|January 2, 2020
Summary
Colorectal perforation is a rare but fatal complication of barium enema examinations. Increased awareness of this risk is crucial, especially as barium enemas are less common due to endoscopy prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Barium enema examinations, once a standard diagnostic tool for colorectal conditions, have seen a decline in usage.
- The decreased frequency of barium enemas has led to reduced physician familiarity with their potential complications.
- Colorectal perforation is a recognized, albeit infrequent, adverse event associated with barium enema procedures.
Observation:
- This case report highlights a critical instance of colorectal perforation following a barium enema.
- The patient's presentation underscores the severity and potential lethality of this rare complication.
- Delayed recognition of the perforation significantly increases mortality risk.
Findings:
- Colorectal perforation following barium enema, though rare, carries a high mortality rate.
- Physician awareness of barium enema complications may be diminished due to the rise of endoscopic alternatives.
- Prompt diagnosis and management are essential for improving patient outcomes in cases of post-barium enema perforation.
Implications:
- Reinforces the need for continued vigilance regarding barium enema complications, despite their rarity.
- Suggests a potential knowledge gap in recognizing and managing barium enema-induced colorectal perforations among healthcare providers.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering barium enema complications in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal conditions, even with the prevalence of endoscopy.
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