Description 

A 41-year-old man with medical history of paraplegia as the result of spinal surgery complications and chronic constipation secondary to chronic opioid use and neurogenic colon requiring frequent enemas and manual disimpaction presents to the emergency room with diffuse abdominal pain after digital disimpaction. On examination, his abdomen was tender, rigid and distended with general peritonitis. Laboratory values were significant for leucopaenia of 3.3 k/µL and elevated lactate of 2.25 mmol/L. CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a perforated sigmoid colon with an 8.3 cm defect and peritoneal spillage of faecal contents with scattered foci of free air (figure 1). He was taken emergently for an exploratory laparotomy where the rectosigmoid colon perforation was identified, surrounding colon was resected and copious washout performed for the litre of faecal material in the peritoneum. The bowel was left in discontinuity, and an open abdomen negative pressure therapy vacuum was placed. The patient was resuscitated in the surgical intensive care unit and later returned to the operating room for a formal closure and colostomy creation. His remaining postoperative course was uncomplicated, and he was discharged to a rehabilitation facility.

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Figure 1

(A) Coronal CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrating large faecal load, free perforation and spillage of faecal material. (B) White arrow marking 8 cm right sigmoid defect. (C) Dilated rectum measuring 8.6 cm.

Colonic perforation secondary to stercoral ulceration is rare. It was first reported in 1894 and contributes to only 3.2% of all colonic perforations.1 Our patient exhibited multiple major risk factors that promoted a stercoral ulcer formation and subsequent perforation. There is a prevalence rate of 17% in hospitalised patients who had a spinal cord injury to develop faecal impaction.2 His chronic opioid usage also predisposed him to develop constipation. Constipation is a very common debilitating disorder seen in the hospital. The prevalence of this disorder ranges depending on age and population; however the elderly is most at risk. Factors that predispose patients to constipation include lifestyle (dehydration, immobility and low fibre), anatomic (stricture, anal fissure and extrinsic mass), neurological (spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and Hirschsprung’s disease), metabolic (hypothyroidism, hypocalcaemia and hypokalaemia) or medication induced (opioids and antipsychotics). Chronic constipation can lead to faecal impaction, stercoral ulcer formation and perforation, which can be life threatening with an associated mortality rate of 47%.3 Faecal impaction can be defined as symptoms of constipation in the presence of an obstructing faecal mass diagnosed on imaging or digital rectal exam. Prompt treatment is essential requiring disimpaction (manual or endoscopic), evacuation of the colon (enemas and polyethylene glycol) and maintenance bowel regimen to prevent recurrence. If left untreated, a stercoral ulcer may form, which is a result of prolonged pressure ischaemia of the faecaloma on the surrounding colonic mucosa that can lead to weakening and perforation.