A Case of Small Intestinal Perforation Associated with Low Dose Aspirin Medication

Abstract

We report on a case of perforation of the small intestine. An 81-year-old woman came to the emergency room due to vomiting and abdominal pain. The patient had been taking antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic drugs together with aspirin 100mg for four years. On physical examination the abdomen was soft, there were decreased bowel sounds and percussion tenderness, but not rebound tenderness, was found in the right abdomen. Blood chemistry pointed to inflammation and the abdominal X-ray findings suggested paralytic ileus. Abdominal CT images showed free air in the upper abdomen. We suspected an intestinal perforation and performed emergency surgery. Intraoperatively, a single perforation was seen 10cm orally from the terminal ileum. The pathological findings revealed a simple intestinal perforation. This case of intestinal perforation, with a 4-year history of low-dose aspirin (LDA) administration, suggested that LDA could cause intestinal perforation.