Four Cases of Barium Peritonitis

Masayoshi Nishina, Chiiho Fujii, Ryukoh Ogino

Department of Acute Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School

During eleven years, four cases of barium peritonitis were surgically treated at the institution. Two cases received upper gastrointestinal series and perforated at the site of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, one case received barium enema and perforated at the site of rectal cancer. Another case received an upper gastrointestinal series and perforated at the descending colon. Surgical procedures including gastrectomy, gastrostomy or colostomy were performed with peritoneal lavage, fluid resuscitation, and increased antibiotics. All patients survived. In the case of perforated descending colon, partial colectomy was perfomed secondarily. However the anastomosis stenosed twice, and the microscopic finding showed a granulomatous reaction with barium particles. This case suggests that one must keep in mind the possibility of stenosing of anastomotic due to granulomatous reaction with barium particles.

Key words
barium peritonitis, perforation of colon, stenosis of anastomosis

Reprint requests
Masayoshi Nishina Department of Acute Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School
577 Matsushima, Kurashiki-city, Okayama, 701-01 JAPAN

Accepted
January 13, 1993

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