Four cases of perforation of the colon above the peritoneal reflection during a barium-enema examination were reviewed with regard to the type of examination, site of perforation, status of the colon, clinical manifestations, mode of detection, and consequences. Perforation above the peritoneal reflection does not seem to be directly related to technical factors. The cecum and ascending colon, with their larger lumina, are the most likely sites. Because such patients are usually asymptomatic at the time, careful examination of post-fluoroscopic radiographs for signs of perforation is strongly recommended.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.