Problems of the so-called spontaneous intestinal perforation
Tonak, J.; Filler, D.
Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für Alle Gebiete der Operativen Medizen 48(5): 334-338
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-4722 PMID: 862482 Document Number: 117920
Among 250 cases of perforation of the large and small bowel during the past 5 years there were 11 patients in whom the cause of the perforation was not clear at first and which were labeled spontaneous. After thorough investigation a satisfactory explanation for the perforation of the apparently normal bowel could be given for all patients. The most frequent causes were distention of the bowel wall, particularly of the cecum, and ischemic enterocolitis. We consider the incidence of really spontaneous bowel perforations very unlikely.