Management of traumatic and non traumatic hollow visceral perforation in North India

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Hollow visceral perforation is the commonest perforation among all the hollow viscera in the body. The perforation can be traumatic or non-traumatic and it constitute commonest surgical emergency worldwide. The diagnosis of perforation can be made clinically but for confirmation basic radiological investigations and sometimes special investigation are required.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a prospective observational study conducted in our institute in the Department of General Surgery. The patients who are included in this study were more than 15 years of age in both sexes having hollow visceral perforation presenting in accident and emergency department. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 624 patients, 530 (84.93%) were males while only 94 (15.06%) were females, with a male: female ratio of 5.63:1. The site of perforation are ileum 37.01% duodenum, 28.36% maximum sites of hollow viscous perforation. Acid peptic disease was the cause of perforation in 27.40% of 171 cases. Enteric fever accounted maximally for 29% of 181 cases and all in the ileum. Acute appendicitis resulted in perforation of the appendix in 64 cases (10.25%) while blunt trauma abdomen causes perforation in 12.66% of 79 cases. Perforation due to stab injury accounted for 5.12% and fire arm injury perforation seen in 19 patients (3.04%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Early diagnosis of perforation, resuscitation with crystalloids with broad spectrum antibiotic coverage and urgent surgical intervention whenever patient is fit for anaesthesia are the important factors which decides the ultimate fate of the patient in case of hollow visceral perforation peritonitis. </p>