A perforation is a hole in the wall of the digestive tract. A
perforation may occur anywhere in the digestive tract and may occur
A perforation of the digestive tract can be life-threatening. It can
cause severe pain and bleeding. The material inside the intestines can leak
into the hollow space of the abdomen (abdominal cavity) and cause an infection
(peritonitis). Emergency surgery is needed when a perforation has
January 9, 2013
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & David Messenger, MD
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