Case Report: A female patient with gastrointestinal perforation, acute diffuse peritonitis, and Crohn's disease needs

Dai-Liang Fei1, Ze Yu1, Wan-Neng Yan2

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Zhoushan Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhoushan, China.

Frontiers in Medicine
|August 13, 2025
PubMed

A 47-year-old married woman presented with abdominal discomfort, distension, and nausea following a two-day episode of constipation accompanied by reduced urine output. Upon her admission, a physical assessment indicated tachycardia and abdominal sensitivity, while imaging examinations corroborated gastrointestinal perforation along with signs of acute diffuse peritonitis. The patient had a prior history of Crohn's disease and had been off medication for over a year. The initial surgical intervention entailed bowel resection and adhesiolysis; however, postoperative complications arose, prompting a second operation due to suspected anastomotic leakage and a severe infection. In spite of these challenges, the patient received intensive care, nutritional support, and treatment for short bowel syndrome. Over span of a month, her health significantly improved, and she was ultimately discharged with ongoing management for her Crohn's disease. This case underscores the intricacies involved in addressing intestinal perforations in patients with pre-existing Crohn's disease and highlights the imperative for prompt surgical action and comprehensive postoperative care.

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