ONE CASE OF BARIUM PERITONITIS ASSOCIATED WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Although roentgenography with barium of the upper and lower digestive tract is a necessary examination for gastrointestinal diseases, there are some cases in which perforation leads to the occurrence of barium peritonitis. The present article reports a recent case of barium peritonitis in enema roentgenography that was relieved surgically. The patient, an 85-year-old male, visited our hospital with chief complaints of diarrhea and proctorrhagia. Enema roentgenography revelaed a deflux of barium into the abdomen, and laparotomy was performed about seven hours later, resulting in relief. There are only 41 case reports of this disorder. The prognosis is poor and the mortality is 22%. In terms of perforation site, 83% of all cases had perforation in the lower digestive tract. As treatment, early surgery, treatment of peritonitis and appropriate techniques are needed. For prevention of this disorder, it is important to perform an extensive examination and to be careful with elderly patients or those with lesions so as not to cause a rapid rise in intraintestinal pressure. It is also necessary to prevent the retention of the barium mass by administration of cathartics after transillumination of the stomach.