Stercoral perforation of the ileum in a very low birth weight infant: A case report

Abstract

Stercoral perforation is rare spontaneous rupture of the bowel that is associated with a high risk of mortality. Cases of stercoral perforation have typically been reported in adults, with the colon being the most common site of perforation. There has been no case report of stercoral perforation in infants. In this case report, we describe a stercoral perforation in the distal ileum in a preterm male infant. An 11-day-old male was referred with complaints of vomiting and abdominal distension. Dilatation of bowels with fecal impaction was found on simple abdominal radiographs. Abdominal distension was aggravated with no effect of glycerin enema. Explorative laparotomy was performed and stercoral perforation of the distal ileum was confirmed.