A nicked bowel or bowel perforation occurs when a hole is made in the bowel. A bowel perforation should be treated as a medical emergency because the bowel contents in the abdominal cavity can cause infection called peritonitis. This can lead to sepsis if untreated.
How do you check for bowel perforation?
If you have any symptoms as described above, or suspect you may have a bowel perforation, you should seek medical assistance.
Various tests may be necessary, including an X-ray, CT scan, or blood test. Sometimes an enema may be needed. Smaller perforations can be hard to diagnose.
Can you have a perforated bowel and not know it?
The signs and symptoms of a perforated bowel vary, so it is possible to be initially unaware. You may not experience any symptoms or only mild symptoms. For others, symptoms may be severe straight away. It is likely that ‘mild’ symptoms will get worse.
Can a perforated bowel heal on its own?
You may need emergency surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Some small bowel perforations can sometimes heal without surgery. However, you should not take this risk.
What is the survival rate of a perforated bowel?
A perforated bowel can usually be treated with surgery. If left untreated, the infection it causes can lead to disability or death.
Survival rates depend on how quickly it is treated. If there is no treatment, or treatment is delayed and sepsis develops, the chance of recovery will be lower.
