A Case of Self-Induced Hydrostatic Colonic Perforation

Constipation is a common complaint. The elderly are five times more prone to constipation than young people because of the effects of medication, immobility, and a blunted urge to defecate. Many of these patients are demented, have cognitive deficits, or suffer from a psychiatric disorder. Colonic perforation caused by hydrostatic pressure is rare, and this typically occurs during fluoroscopic studies resulting when there is excessive intraluminal colonic pressure. Self-induced colonic perforation is even rarer.

We report the case of a 95-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with an acute surgical abdomen and symptoms of sepsis. He had a history of longstanding constipation. He gave a history of frequent insertion of a rubber hose into his anal canal to relieve his constipation while rinsing his anus after defecation. After resuscitation, an emergency operation was performed, and sigmoid colon perforation was found in addition to pre-existing diverticular disease. Hartmann's procedure was performed after abdominal washout. Unfortunately, the patient died of multi-organ failure two days after surgery.

Self-induced hydrostatic colonic perforation is rare. The consequence is fatal, especially in the elderly or in cases of delayed presentation.