Stercoral Peritonitis Revealing Post-Traumatic Rectal Perforation: A Case Report

Overview & Synopsis

Open abdominal trauma can be complicated by serious digestive injuries, often delayed in their presentation. We report the case of a 49-year-old man, victim of a road traffic accident with hypogastric impact, who presented with stercoral peritonitis secondary to an unrecognized rectal perforation. The initially stable evolution quickly required emergency surgery with rectal suture, peritoneal cleansing and protective colostomy. This case illustrates the importance of early surgical exploration in the face of any clinical doubt after abdominal trauma.