BENIGN PNEUMOPERITONEUM AFTER FIBEROPTIC COLONSCOPY - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 100 PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 73  (2) , 226-230
Abstract
A prospective study of 100 consecutive unselected patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic fiberoptic colonoscopy was undertaken. The incidence of colonic perforation was 1%, which is similar to the incidence reported in the literature. Even when immediate postcolonscopic supine and erect abdominal radiographs and pre- and postcolonscopic total blood counts and enzyme levels to supplement clinical impressions are obtained, the incidence of perforation of the colon after fiberoptic colonoscopy is apparently low, no higher than that reported in the literature. Pneumoperitoneum may occur after fiberoptic colonoscopy with little or no clinical evidence suggesting perforation. Perforation in some patients may be treated conservatively without the need of emergency laparotomy.

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