A Case of Sigmoid Colon Perforation Caused by Barium that was Treated by Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Lower gastrointestinal perforation causes severe inflammation due to intraperitoneal contamination, and barium perforation causes even stronger inflammation owing to the pro-inflammatory properties of barium. Surgical drainage is often required and is usually performed with laparotomy. Recent advances in laparoscopic techniques and careful consideration of them have led to an increase in laparoscopic procedures for lower gastrointestinal perforation, and there have been some reports of laparoscopic surgery for barium perforation.

In this report, we describe a case in which a patient who underwent laparoscopic surgery for lower gastrointestinal perforation caused by barium after careful consideration of the patient's general condition and diagnostic laparoscopic findings, but some barium remained after the surgery. When laparoscopic surgery is chosen for lower gastrointestinal perforation due to the specific cause of barium, careful consideration of the indications for the procedure, as well as careful attention to the prediction of postoperative complications and early intervention, is necessary to achieve a good outcome.