Perforated Small Bowel

[Kimmi73]

My mother just had surgery on her small bowel. It was more than three quarters torn. The surgeon said it was in an awkward place, so far up and had never witnessed something like it. She has a H/O of colitis or IBS since a teenager. She is now 59 years old. She was frequently going to the ER for vomitting and no one found out the reason until after 5 trips. She had no shock or trauma to affect te small intestine. The surgeon said she had bacteria/infection floating around. My question is: Would this be known as peritinitis? Could the longstanding condition of throwing up and diarrhia cause the small bowel to tear? Her surgery was last Tuesday and they are hoping to take the G Tube out in a couple days. I've done extensive research on this and would appreciate anyone who has experience or knowledge of this to share thoughts. Are there any long term consequences of this? The surgical nurse referred to her type of surgery as a rue and y... but not a complete one??? I should also ad that my mother has went years without going to a GI doc. She recently went for a consult a month ago and he ordered a colonoscopy. Which she cancelled due to fear of being told something. However the pain became so bad that she went to the ER and the CT scan revealed air in the bowel. Her stomach was so distended that within 5 minutes of the G tube being put in over 1 liter of fluid was drained. Also is a perforated bowel the same as a bowel obstruction? The surgeon said she could've died from this. Is it correct to say since the small bowel was torn the food and fluids weren't being absorped properly and then "backed up" in her system. Thanks for listening and ANY INSIGHT is greatly appreciated!

* my mother isn't obese, doesn't smoke, or drink alcohol.*

Any replies would be appreciated! THANKS!

[thlnc]

Has anyone told your mother she has diverticulosis or diverticulitis? Diverticulosis is a pouch that can form in the intestine. It is a weakened area and may not cause symptoms unless it gets infected or swollen and then it is called diverliculitis. A diverticuli can rupture and that could be how air got into her abdominal cavity. If the stool gets into the peritoneal cavity it causes a massive infection and peritonitis which is an inflamation of the peritoneum. Alot can be done to keep from having flare ups from diverticulitis such as diet changes etc.... Good Luck, hope she's better soon.