Free perforation in XXXX : a report of 33 cases and review of literature.

@entity1 @entity134 @entity137 @entity30
Thirty-three @entity1 with free perforation in @entity30 are described. There are 14 males and 19 females in this series with ages ranging from 14 to 79 years. The sites of perforation were 22 of the ileum, nine colonic, one jejunal, and one gastroduodenal. Toxic megacolon coexisted in two. Reperforation occurred in three. Free perforation was the presenting sign of the disease in three. @entity134 therapy coexisted in 16 @entity1 but in five was administered for less than 10 days before perforation. Obstruction coexisted in only three @entity1 . There were two deaths. Twenty-two @entity1 were treated with resection and diversion, nine @entity1 with resection and drainage, and two with plication only. No relationship between @entity134 therapy, duration of disease, @entity137 , or obstruction with perforation could be established. Resection of the perforated disease segment is necessary when possible. In contradistinction to previous literature, free perforation in @entity30 is not as unusual as heretofore believed.
