Bowel perforation

Question 1

What might a CXR show, indicating bowel perforation?

Answer 1

Pneumoperitoneum

Question 2

What might a AXR show indicating bowel perforation?

Answer 2

Rigler sign (both sides of bowel are present because of air in peritoneum

Psoas sign (loss of delineation of psoas muscle border)

Question 3

Name 5 causes of bowel perforation

Answer 3

Diverticulitis
Colorectal cancer
Trauma
Peptic ulcer disease (i.e duodenal ulcer)
Bowel obstruction
Severe colitis i.e from Crohn's Disease
Toxic megacolon i.e from C.diff infection/Ulcerative Colitis
Iatrogenic (during colonoscopy)