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Gastrointestinal perforation - Symptom

Alternative Names

Intestinal perforation; Perforation of the intestines

Symptoms:

Perforation of the intestine leads to leakage of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity. This causes inflammation called peritonitis.

Symptoms may include:

Abdominal pain - severe
Chills
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting

Signs and tests:

X-rays of the chest or abdomen may show air in the abdominal cavity (not in the stomach or intestines), suggesting a perforation. CT scan of the abdomen often shows the location of the perforation. The white blood cell (WBC) count is often higher than normal.

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 6/28/2010
Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Turnage RH, Richardson KA, Li BD, McDonald JC. Abdominal wall, umbilicus, peritoneum, mesenteries, omentum, and retroperitoneum. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008:chap 43.

Peritonitis

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