Emergency cases following elective colonoscopy: Iatrogenic colonic perforation
INTRODUCTIONColonoscopy is commonly used in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of colorectal diseases. It is generally acknowledged to be a safe procedure. The most frequent colonoscopy-related complication is post-polypectomy bleeding. The number of patients necessitating surgical intervention related to bleeding is very low (1). Colonoscopy-related colonic perforation is seen less than bleeding; however, it is still a significant complication that can lead to morbidity and mortality (2). The prevalence of post-colonoscopic perforation is 0.03% to 0.8% in diagnostic colonoscopy procedures, while it varies between 0.3% and 3% in therapeutic colonoscopies (3). There is still no consensus on the optimal treatment of iatrogenic colonic perforations because there are no prospective randomized and controlled studies in the literature. In this study, we present the cases of our patients who contracted colonic perforation during elective colonoscopy and who were transformed into emergency cases, along with their treatment modalities.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
The PatientsThe cases of patients who contracted iatrogenic colonic perforation following endoscopy of the colorectal system between January 2009 and December 2015 at Kartal Koşuyolu Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital's Endoscopy Unit were reviewed retrospectively. The study was made according to Helsinki Declaration.The total numbers of diagnostic and interventional colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy procedures along with the total number of polypectomy and biopsy procedures conducted within the scope of interventional colonoscopy were determined within the designated timeframe of the study.Endoscopic investigations are performed by gastroenterology surgery specialists and sub-specialty residents with gastroenterology specialists at the endoscopy unit of our hospital. All the patients signed detailed informed consent forms before the procedure. Patients who recently experienced myocardial Objective: Our aim in this study was to present the cases of our patients who contracted colonic perforation during elective colonoscopy and became emergency cases; we also discuss treatment modalities along with literature reports on the subject.
Material and Methods:Cases of patients who contracted iatrogenic colonic perforation following endoscopy of the colorectal system between January 2009 and December 2015 at Kartal Koşuyolu Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital's Endoscopy Unit were reviewed retrospectively.
Results:Within the duration of the study, 5.586 patients underwent colonoscopies at our hospital; 7 (0.12%) of these patients contracted iatrogenic colonic perforation. Three (42.8%) of these patients were male, four (57.2%) were female, and their mean age was 69 years (46 to 84). Six (85.7%) patients were diagnosed intraoperationally, while one (14.3%) patient was diagnosed 12 hours after the procedure. The perforation area was the sigmoid colon in six patients and the ascend...