Perforated Colon
The Causes And Treatments Of Perforated Colon
Perforated colon is an absolutely critical occurrence, one which is highly painful, fatally toxic, and which requires immediate, emergency hospitalization. This can happen due to a number of incidents and diseases, and is a rupture that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. Before we go over the symptoms and risks involved with perforated colon, we will discuss some of the reasons that you might fear being stricken with it. Those who have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or diverticulitis will need to be very aware of any changes in their health, and be ready to respond to the painful warning signs which could denote the rupture of their bowels.
Those who have been diagnosed with diverticulitis will be prone to infections and pockets of debris in their diverticula, which are small pockets within the colon. If left infected or untreated for an elongated period time, though sometimes this happens without warning at all, these swollen, filled pouches will cause a blockage within the colon, and a severe episode will cause perforated colon. Once the bowel ruptures, toxins and poisonous waste are spilled into the abdominal cavity and made available to the bloodstream. This type of rupture is capable of causing almost instant death in some individuals, though it can be corrected and a life saved if caught in time.
Another cause of perforated colon could be a trauma, such as that caused by a forceful hit to the lower abdomen or a car accident. These can be even more critical than those which are suffered due to disease, as the force of the trauma will often expel the waste materials through the rupture quickly and with more force. If the victim should loose consciousness, and is not able to communicate the pain and illness associated with perforated colon, the danger grows larger and the prognosis much more bleak. For this reason, as a common practice, emergency medical professionals will often scan the body at the first available chance in order to determine internal injuries such as ruptured spleen or perforated colon.
There are cases where the perforated colon is so minimal as to go undetected for a couple of hours, but the symptoms that you need to watch for will hit eventually, no matter how minor the internal injury. Severe nausea almost always occurs, and there is pain throughout the abdominal region in most cases. Profuse vomiting is another sign, along with a sense of lethargy and weakness. Whether you have a preexisting condition that might cause perforated colon or not, these symptoms should always be taken seriously and given the medical attention that they require. Be your own advocate, and know your body well.