[Prophylaxis and therapy of colon perforation in diagnostic fiber colonoscopy (author's transl)]

Three cases of colonic perforation which we could observe in 622 own colonoscopies and two which have been referred to us for surgical repair, are reported. On behalf of these cases the cause of such a perforation as a complication of colonoscopy is pointed out. The symptoms of colonic perforation are not very impressive and somewhat incharacteristic. The treatment of choice is immediate laparotomy, whereby the decision whether simply suture of the defect or resection with or without colostomy remains to be made intraoperatively. In case of massive pneumoperitoneum the puncture of the lower abdomen can be made as an emergency operation.