title: Stercoraceous perforation of the colon.
abstract: Non-traumatic colon perforations are usually caused by malignancy, diverticulum and colitis. They rarely result from stool impaction. A 74-year-old woman with stercoracous perforation of the colon is reported. She had a long history of constipation and hypertension treated irregularly with cathartics, enemas, diuretics and beta-blockers. Resection of the perforated colon with a proximal diverting colostomy and Hartman's procedure was performed. The patient tolerated the operation and subsequent reanastomosis 6 weeks later. In the case of elderly patients with constipation, early management of the constipation is mandatory, although this condition of stercoraceous perforation is rare.
authors: Y H
authors: YH
authors: Wang
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Hwang
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology