OBJECTIVETo summarize the diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic colonoscopic perforation (ICP).

METHODSClinical data, treatment course and outcome of 17 patients who developed ICP following colonoscopic examination or operation at Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital from January 2000 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSDuring above 13 years, a total of 127 106 patients underwent colonoscopic examination or operation, of whom 17 cases (0.013%) had ICP. There were 8 males and 9 females with an average age of 65.2 (32-85) years. The interval between the onset of ICP and clinically diagnosed ICP was 0 to 6 days after performance. ICP occurred in 8 patients following colonoscopy operations, including simple colonic polyp excision, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), while in 9 patients following simple colonoscopy examination. Except for one patient who was immediately diagnosed with ICP through the finding of "yellow adipose tissue visible in the vision field" during operation,7 early cases (41.2%) were diagnosed by abdominal X-ray examination, and 9 later cases were confirmed by abdominal CT examination. The perforation sites included sigmoid colon in 5 cases, caecum in 3 cases, descending colon in 3 cases, descending and sigmoid junction in 2 cases, ileum in 1 case, splenic flexure in 1 case, sigmoid and rectum junction in 1 case, retum in 1 case. One case with ICP following ESD after resection of polyp in caecum was cured successfully with conservative treatment, including fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, fluid infusion, anti-infection and nutritional support. One case with ICP, which was found during colonoscopic operation and the perforation was immediately closed with titanium clip, received conservative treatment, including anti-infection and then was cured. Fifteen patients underwent surgery, including 8 patients with primary intention intestinal perforation repair, 4 patients with primary intention resection of associated intestine and anastomosis, 2 patients with primary intention resection of associated intestine and ostomy, 1 patient with primary intention intestinal perforation repair and ostomy. Postoperative abdominal incision infection occurred in 4 cases, pulmonary infection in 1 case, incision infection with cardiovascular event or urinary tract infection in 1 case each. All the patients were cured and discharged. Average hospital stay was 18.6(3-45) days.

CONCLUSIONSICP should be diagnosed by physical examination and imaging examination as soon as possible. For perforation during colonoscopic performance, colonoscopic titanium clip can be used for closure. Perforation repair is still the main procedure for ICP. If necessary, partial intestinal resection and anastomosis or ostomy can be selected.