A Case of Stercoral Perforation of the Sigmoid Colon

ABSTRACT

A stercoral perforation of the colon is a rare phenomenon and is caused by severe prolonged constipation. Since the first reported case in 1894, approximately 80 additional cases have been reported. However, this rare condition seems to have been underestimated because of not only obscure diagnostic standards but also ignorance and failure to notice by surgeons. Due to its high mortality rate of about 35~40%, a stercoral ulcer perforation should be considered in any patient with chronic constipation who presents with peritonitis. We report a case of a 75-year-old female who was diagnosed as having a stercoral perforation of the sigmoid colon and review the clinical features, the diagnosis, and the treatment.