Iatrogenic rectal injuries caused by rectoscopy or barium enema

Rectal injuries represent a serious problem in modern surgery. Rectoscopy and barium enema are reliable, relatively simple and very accurate methods of determining different colon and rectum diseases. Frequency of rectal injuries during the rectoscopy in USA is 1-2 cases in 5000 examinations. Retrospective analyses of the period 1980-1994, included five patients treated at the Department for General and Vascular Surgery, Military Medical Academy from iatrogenic rectal injuries caused by rectoscopy or barium enema. Most diagnoses were made by clinical examination, without preoperative rectosigmoidoscopy. For the patients with injuries detected within 24 hours, the therapy included suture of the perforation spot, proximal colostomy and drainage. In the patient with injury established after this interval, rectum amputation was performed.