Trans-anal barotrauma by compressed air leading to sigmoid perforation due to a dangerous practical joke.

Abstract

To present a case report of trans-anal barotrauma by high-pressure compressed air jet as a dangerous practical joke, that is, playful insufflation of high-pressure air jet through the anal orifice resulting in sigmoid perforation. The patient presented to emergency a day later with complaints of severe pain in the abdomen and abdominal distension following insufflation of high-pressure air jet through the anus. On examination, he had signs suggestive of perforation peritonitis and x-ray of the abdomen showed gas under the diaphragm. An emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed which revealed a 4-cm perforation in the sigmoid colon. Resection of the segment containing perforation along with the surrounding devitalised part was done with double-barrel colostomy. Reversal of colostomy was done after 8 weeks. Follow-up was uneventful.

• Authors: Harvinder Singh Pahwa, Awanish Kumar, Rohit Srivastava, Anurag Rai
• Journal: BMJ case reports (BMJ Case Rep) Vol. 2012 (Aug 01 2012) ISSN: 1757-790X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22854240 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Abdominal Pain (etiology)
• Adult
• Anal Canal
• Barotrauma (complications, diagnosis)
• Colon, Sigmoid (injuries, pathology, surgery)
• Colostomy
• Compressed Air (adverse effects)
• Device Removal
• Dyspnea (etiology)
• Humans
• Intestinal Perforation (complications, diagnosis, etiology, surgery)
• Laparotomy
• Male
• Peritonitis (complications, etiology)
• Tachycardia (etiology)
• Treatment Outcome