Some Causes of Perforation
Area of Perforation |
Causes |
Comments |
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Anywhere along the digestive tract |
Injury |
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Forceful vomiting |
This disorder is called Boerhaave syndrome. |
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Injury caused by a medical procedure |
Injury is typically caused by an esophagoscope, balloon dilator, or bougie (a thin cylinder-shaped instrument). |
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Swallowing strong corrosive material |
Typically, battery acid or lye is swallowed. |
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Stomach or the first segment of the small intestine (duodenum) |
About one third of people have had no previous ulcer symptoms. |
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Swallowing strong corrosive material |
Such material typically damages the stomach rather than the small intestine. |
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A blockage that cuts off the blood supply to the intestine (strangulating obstruction) |
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Possibly appendicitis and Meckel diverticulitis |
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A blockage (obstruction) |
Blockage typically results from cancer or impacted stool. |
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People who are taking prednisone or other drugs that inhibit the immune system (immunosuppressants) are at high risk of developing diverticulitis. However, these people may have few symptoms. |
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Inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease) |
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Expansion of the large intestine (toxic megacolon) |
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Sometimes spontaneous |
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Injury that occurs during surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) or liver biopsy Rarely, inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) |
Injury may be to the gallbladder or bile ducts. |