Medically reviewed by Qin Rao, MD A perforated bowel, or intestinal perforation, occurs when a hole forms in the wall of the small intestine or colon (large intestine). This allows the bowel's ...

The other non-traumatic cause is a bowel obstruction that derives from issues like colon cancer, stomach ulcers, appendicitis, or various infections, which can all have their own underlying causes.

Ten infants in this hospital were found to have perforations of the colon or rectum that were due to traumatic manipulation of the rectum with firm objects by trained medical personnel. Several of ...