What Is a Perforated Bowel?

Perforated bowel is a medical condition caused by a hole or gap in the wall of any part of the gastrointestinal system. These holes develop for different reasons, leading to undigested food or even stools entering the abdomen. This causes inflammation and infection.

What Causes a Perforated Bowel?

Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the intestines which leads to intestinal blockages. People with Crohn's disease are at the highest overall risk for PB.

Another chronic disease that can lead to PB is Diverticulitis, a condition in which the colon is covered in tiny infected pouches of organ tissue.

You can also develop PB from any injury to the abdomen.

Symptoms of Perforated Bowel

Every patient experiences different symptom sets. These are the most common signs of PB.

Abdominal pain--Severe pain in the abdomen could be a sign of a PB. Even dull pain in the abdomen is a red flag. Pain is the most common symptom in patients with PB, so abdominal pain is more like a first sign of trouble than a true symptom.

Abdominal swelling--A swollen abdomen in combination with a feeling of "fullness" is a major symptom. Swelling in the abdomen is uncommon, so this symptom usually alerts doctors to the presence of a bowel perforation.

Fever--High fevers (102 degrees F or above) accompanied by chills is a sign of PB, especially in patients that have abdominal pain or swelling or have experienced abdominal trauma. Body temperature increases due to the infection in the abdomen caused by a bowel perforation.

Nausea--Taken in conjunction with a few other symptoms (fever, abdominal pain, and swelling), this nausea could be the symptom that leads to a diagnosis of PB.

Change in bowel movements--Bowel perforations cause constipation or severe diarrhea, sometimes both at once. If you notice blood in your stool or a change in the color of the stools, talk to your doctor.

Preventing Perforated Bowel

Perforated bowel is preventable, even in cases where PB is caused by another chronic health condition like Crohn's disease. If a patient is diagnosed with Crohn's disease or Diverticulitis, treatment is required within a short time window.

Medication and other treatments exist to prevent bowel perforations in patients with conditions that lead to them. Maintaining good bowel health by eating lots of fiber, drinking water, and exercising is important when trying to avoid bowel perforation.