The management of colonoscopic and sigmoidoscopic perforation of the large bowel

The treatment of 8 patients who sustained endoscopic perforation of the large bowel at this hospital in the past 5 years is described. Two had signs of general peritonitis and were operated on. One had a laparotomy under the same general anaesthetic as that during which perforation occurred. Of the remainder, 4 were treated conservatively, while no perforation was found at operation in the other case. All recovered. We conclude that when signs of general peritonism are absent and the patient's condition is good, expectant management with nasogastric suction, intravenous fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics should be adopted. Free gas on X-ray is not per se an indication for laparotomy. A defunctioning colostomy is often unnecessary in those patients treated operatively.