RETROPERITONEAL PERFORATION IN ULCERATIVE-COLITIS WITH MEDIASTINAL AND SUBCUTANEOUS EMPHYSEMA

Retroperitoneal colonic perforation in patients with ulcerative coliti s is rare. We report such a case in a patient with severe ulcerative c olitis without toxic dilatation in whom mediastinal and subcutaneous e mphysema also developed. Unlike previously reported cases, our patient was treated conservatively with intravenous fluids, parenteral nutrit ion, intravenous hydrocortisone, and antibiotics. After 2 weeks, the m ediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema and the retroperitoneal air comp letely disappeared.