Perforation of the Digestive Tract

A perforation of the digestive tract is a hole in any of the organs in your digestive tract.

• Injuries, certain diseases, or swallowing certain things can make a hole in your digestive tract

• Food, digestive juices, or waste leak out of the hole into your chest or belly and make you very sick

• You’ll have sudden, severe pain in your chest or belly

• Doctors do x-rays and sometimes a CT (computed tomography) scan

• A perforation is a medical emergency, and you'll need surgery right away

• Without treatment, you could die

Causes of a perforation depend on where in the digestive tract the hole is. Causes include:

• Injury, such as from being stabbed, shot, or injured in a car crash

• Swallowing something that gets stuck (a foreign body)

• Swallowing a chemical, such as acid, that eats a hole in your esophagus or stomach

• Throwing up really hard

• Certain diseases, such as diverticulitis, peptic ulcer disease, blocked intestines, Crohn disease, and ulcerative colitis

Symptoms of a perforation of the digestive tract include:

• Sudden, severe pain in your belly or chest

• Sweating

• A belly that is tender and firm when touched

• Feeling sick to your stomach

• Throwing up

Doctors will do:

• X-rays of your chest and belly

• Sometimes, CT (computed tomography) scan

Doctors treat a perforation of the digestive tract using:

• Immediate surgery to close the hole and stop fluid and intestinal contents from leaking out

• Fluids and antibiotics given through your vein (IV)