Perforated nonspecific ulcer of the sigmoid colon: four cases in one year

During 1993, four consecutive adult male patients underwent emergency surgery for free perforation of nonspecific sigmoid colon ulcers. All four patients presented with peritonitis and in each patient the Hartmann's procedure was performed. In each patient there was a single perforation but two of the patients presented with multiple erosions and ulcerations, and the other two- with solitary ulcers. All patients survived and had uneventful postoperative course. Three of them underwent uncomplicated restorations of the bowel continuity. Colonoscopy should be attempted in every suspicious case to confirm or to exclude the presence of nonspecific colon ulcers that could threat patient's life.