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Stercoral perforation of the colon in a heroin addict

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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and aims. Stercoral perforation of the colon is rare. Narcotics are well known to produce chronic constipation resulting in stercoral perforation, however, only one case of a heroin addict developing stercoral perforation has been reported.

Patients and methods. We present a case of a 67 year-old man with chronic heroin use and stercoral perforation requiring sigmoidectomy and Hartmann's procedure. Computed tomography was performed prior to exploration.

Results. This is the first case of computed tomography findings, prior to laparotomy, that have been published for stercoral perforation.

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Tessier, D.J., Harris, E., Collins, J. et al. Stercoral perforation of the colon in a heroin addict. Int J Colorectal Dis 17, 435–437 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-002-0417-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-002-0417-4

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