Gastrointestinal perforation (GP) occurs when a hole forms all the way through the stomach, large bowel, or small intestine. It can be due to a number of different diseases, including appendicitis and diverticulitis. It can also be the result of trauma, such as a knife wound or gunshot wound. A perforation may also occur in the gallbladder. This can have symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of a gastrointestinal perforation.
Gastrointestinal surgery is a procedure for disorders of the parts of the body carried in digestion. This contains the esophagus, small intestine or large intestine, stomach and rectum. It also contains the liver,pancreas and gallbladder.
Surgery may be applied to bring out a cancerous and noncancerous growth and affected area of the body like the intestine. It may also be applied to recover a disorder such as:-a hernia or hole and weak spots in the wall of the abdomen. Minor surgical treatments are applied to screen and diagnose diseases of the digestive system.
What are the risks and side effects?
Any surgery performs with some kind of risks which includes:-
- Infection. Anytime the body gets open and the infections can get in. Surgeons are very careful to keep things sterile and clean at the time of surgery, but there is always a chance of infection.
- Pain. Depending upon the surgery, a person may experience soreness and pain during recovery.
- Bleeding and blood clots. Sometimes cuttings made for surgery continuously bleed, which can make improvement take longer. Sometimes the body causes a blood clot where the surgery was performed and the clot blocks an essential blood vessel to the lungs, heart and brain.
- Damage to another body part. Healthy body areas can be accidentally affected during surgery.
- Reaction to anesthesia. Some people don’t react better to anesthesia and may experience nausea and vomiting.
What should I expect during recovery?
Recovery time will depend upon the surgery and surgery invasiveness. With some basic surgeries such as:- colonoscopy, a person can get normal to their daily routines right away. With more invasive surgeries, a person may require some time for healing and some help with supporting the pain after surgery. Be sure to ask the doctor about what to expect at the stage of recovery from the surgery.
How is gastrointestinal perforation diagnosed?
To diagnose GP, your doctor will likely take X-rays of your chest or abdomen to check for air in the abdominal cavity. They may also perform a CT scanto get a better idea where the perforation might be. They’ll also order lab work to:
- look for signs of infection, such as a high white blood cell count
- evaluate your hemoglobin level, which can indicate if you have blood loss
- evaluate electrolytes
- evaluate acid level in the blood
- assess kidney function
- assess liver function
