Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Perforated Viscus


In medical terms, viscus refers to a hollow organ that is present inside the body. In humans, such organs are found in the chest as well as the abdomen, such as intestines, gallbladder, intestines, stomach, spleen and urinary bladder. A perforated viscus, is often used to denote any rupturing or tearing of these organs of the abdomen.

Causes

The hollow organs inside our body, have numerous cell layers in their walls which aid in keeping the contents and materials inside from leaking out. For example, the food materials which we consume can be found in our stomachs. When the food gets digested and the waste materials are formed, both of them can be found in our intestines. The urinary bladder stores the urine, before our bodies expel it. The layers of cells make sure that these contents do not spill out. However, in case of a perforated viscus, these materials leak out of the organs, into the body cavity, thus endangering the life of a person.
  • Perforated viscus can occur due to a number of reasons such as any injury or trauma caused to the abdomen due to some kind of an accident or a heavy object falling on the abdomen.
  • If a person has received gunshot wounds, it can cause the viscus to perforate.
  • Typhoid fever and certain infections and illnesses affecting the organs of the abdomen, can cause a perforated viscus.
  • People with gastric ulcers, biliary colic and women with certain gynecological problems like an ectopic pregnancy, a ruptured ovarian cyst or a ruptured uterus are at a greater risk of experiencing a rupturing in their viscus.
  • Bowel obstructions caused due to reasons such as hernia or fecal impaction or due to cancer can lead to a perforated viscus.
  • Certain intestinal conditions like Crohn's disease, diverticulitis and appendicitis can cause this problem.
  • People suffering from cardiac diseases may experience a necrotic bowel, followed by rupturing of the viscus.
Symptoms

Since, a perforated viscus is caused due to various reasons, its symptoms too vary according to them. Sometimes, the symptoms might be mild, while in other cases, they might be extremely severe. Some of the commonly observed symptoms are severe pain in the abdomen, stiffness in abdomen upon touching, increased heart rate, lowering of the blood pressure, fever, a feeling of nausea sometimes leading to vomiting and abdominal distention.

Treatment

Since due to a perforated viscus, the contents of the hollow organs enter the body cavity, it can lead to bacteria build up, which in most cases, reaches the blood stream and thus, can cause death. That is why, as soon as a perforated viscus occurs, the person should be rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.

The treatment depends upon its cause as well as the location. In most cases though, drug therapy along with open surgery is recommended. If perforated viscus is caused due to some infection, then treatment for that, along with surgery is administered to the patient.

A perforated viscus is a very serious condition, in which life of the person is at risk. So, taking the patient to a doctor, upon experiencing a perforated viscus is recommended so that immediate medical treatment can be given, to save his life and restore him back to health.


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