Gastrointestinal Perforation: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis

 Gastrointestinal perforation is a serious condition that can occur when a hole forms in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. This can happen due to a number of reasons, including ulcers, Crohn’s disease, and cancer. If not treated promptly, gastrointestinal perforation can be fatal. Treatment typically involves surgery to repair the hole. SIDS Hospital has the best gastrointestinal specialists in Surat for the treatment for Gastrointestinal Perforation.

Gastrointestinal Perforation is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately. The condition poses a risk of death. Early diagnosis and treatment increase the likelihood of a full recovery.

Intestinal or intestine perforation are other names for this illness.

Causes of Gastrointestinal Perforation:

A number of ailments, such as:

● Appendicitis, which affects older people more frequently

● A digestive disorder called diverticulitis

● Gastric ulcer

● Gallstones

● Inflammation of the gallbladder

● Inflammatory bowel conditions like the Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

● Meckel’s diverticulum, an appendix-like congenital malformation of the small intestine,.

● Cancer of the digestive system

The disorder could also result from:

● Blunt abdominal injury

● Abdomen-related knife or bullet wounds

● Abdominal operation

● Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and steroids use can cause stomach ulcers (more common in older adults)

● Consuming alien items or poisonous substances

● You run a higher risk of developing GP if you smoke and drink too much.

Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Perforation:

Early signs of gastrointestinal perforation can be difficult to detect. The most prominent indications might not be noticed right away. You might experience the following signs: ‌

● Severe stomach discomfort

● ‌Vomiting

● Fever

● Nausea

● Chills

When should you call your doctor?

As was already said, managing gastrointestinal perforation requires early detection and treatment. If you think you could have this illness, you need to pay close attention to yourself. When you experience your first symptom, there are warning indications you should watch out for. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact best stomach specialist in surat right away: ‌

● Bloody stools

● Hurling up

● Altered bowel habits

● Increase in body temperature or fever

Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Perforation:

Your doctor will examine you after you visit them to determine your issue. Imaging studies and a physical examination are the major components of gastrointestinal perforation diagnosis.

These assessments comprise the following:

● X-ray: To determine whether gas is present in the stomach cavity, an x-ray of the chest or abdomen is taken. It is a perforation that causes air to enter the stomach cavity.

● CT imaging: Your doctor may use abdominal CT scans to determine the location of the gastrointestinal perforation.

● Colonoscopy or an Endoscopy: Locating the gastrointestinal perforation may also be assisted by procedures like endoscopy.

● Blood test: In order to look for signs of infections and blood loss, blood samples are obtained.

Complications of Gastrointestinal Perforation:

Infection is the most frequent side effect of gastrointestinal perforations. Peritonitis or an abdominal abscess are terms used to describe an infection of the digestive system.

Sepsis could result from the infection travelling via the bloodstream to different regions of the body. Whole-body infection, a dangerous illness that can result in death if not treated in a timely manner, can be brought on by this.

Management & Prevention of Gastrointestinal Perforation:

A dangerous illness called gastrointestinal perforation may call for immediate surgery. To lessen its negative effects on the gastrointestinal system, early detection and treatment are essential. Death could result from a diagnosis made too late. ‌‌

Treatment of any infections brought on by the perforation is also a part of management. Your doctor may use fluids and antibiotic medications to treat sepsis.

The perforation can be repaired surgically. The following factors determine whether surgery will be successful in treating a patient: ‌

● How bad the perforation was: The likelihood of success increases with the severity of your disease.

● Length of time the perforation has existed: Long-standing gastrointestinal perforations could be more challenging to treat.

● Underlying medical problems: Asthma and other underlying disorders can affect the course of treatment.

A colostomy may be performed by your doctor. The stomach is emptied during this treatment, and its contents are then placed in a bag. Another name for this procedure is an ileostomy. ‌

Through a hole (stoma) made in your belly, the contents of your colon are emptied. This gives the other areas of your digestive system more time to heal. Surgery is later used to close the hole.

The surgeon might prescribe you some antibiotics after the procedure. The management and prevention of infections will be aided by them.

A serious symptom that necessitates prompt medical attention is intestinal perforation. To diagnose and treat the disorders ranging from inflammation to rips in the digestive tract, these causes are commonly needed for inspection by a stomach specialist in Surat at SIDS Hospital.