[Laparoscopic treatment of colonoscopic perforation: a case report]

Abstract

Infrequent but severe complications may occur during both diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy, including bleeding, perforation and sepsis. The most dangerous complication is perforation. Some iatrogenic perforations may be effectively managed by non-operative measures, but immediate surgery is most definitely indicated in order to minimise the morbidity and mortality associated with the complication. We report a case of colonoscopic perforation secondary to a therapeutic procedure, a snare polypectomy, successfully managed by laparoscopic repair using passing sutures and omentum fixation. The laparoscopic approach enables the surgeon to avoid an unnecessary laparotomy for an endoscopic complication.