title: [Iatrogenic injuries to the colon].
abstract: The authors examine a number of aetiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of iatrogenic injuries to the colon on the basis of an analysis of their own experience and a review of the literature. They highlight the low incidence of this kind of injury, which accounts for only 0.3% of all visceral injuries. Endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery are the most important causes of iatrogenic injuries to the colon. The authors conclude that these injuries are less serious and have a better prognosis than other kinds of colon perforations, because the colon is "clean" and it is possible to obtain an early diagnosis. Exceptions are lesions that occur in the course of a barium enema since these are associated with a high mortality rate which in some series may be as high as 100% of cases owing to the high toxicity of the barium contrast medium.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Chirurgia Generale, UO di Chirurgia Generale a prevalente indirizzo Endocrino, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche Generali e Speciali, Università degli Studi di Messina.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Alia
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lo Schiavo
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonante
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gagliano
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taranto
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sturniolo
mesh_terms: D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology