Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la perforación de colon durante la colonoscopia / Diagnosis and management of colon perforation after colonoscopy

ABSTRACT

Background: Colon perforation is an uncommon but feared complication of colonoscopy. The treatment is usually surgical but occasionally it does not require an operation. Aim: To report our experience in the diagnosis and management of colon perforation after colonoscopy. Material and methods: Retrospective review of the database of 11,720 colonoscopies. The medical records of those patients that had a perforation were reviewed. Results: Twelve perforations in patients aged 26 to 92 years (six women), were identified with a global perforation rate of 0.1 percent. Five occurred during diagnostic and seven during therapeutic procedures. All perforations were confirmed by a plain X ray or CT scan of the abdomen. Four patients, without signs of initial diffuse peritoneal irritation, were medically treated. One of these, finally required surgery. Among operated patients, a primary suture was done in five, a primary excision without colostomy in three and a Hartmann procedure due to a severe peritoneal contamination in one. No patient died. Conclusions: There is a higher risk of colon perforation during therapeutic colonoscopies. Selected cases may be safely treated without surgery.