[Rectal and colonic injuries induced by enemas: a 10-case series at the university hospital center in Bouake, Ivory Coast].

The purpose of this study is to report our experience in the management of rectal and colonic injuries induced by enemas. A retrospective analysis was carried out in a series of 10 patients treated at the Bouake, Ivory Coast University Hospital Centre for rectal and colonic injuries induced by enemas between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2001. There were 6 men and 4 women with a mean age of 26.2 +/- 5.6 years. Based on history taking five enemas involved criminal intent. The other five were carried out for abortion (n=3), therapy (n=1) or autolysis (n=1). The injurious product was known in 7 cases, i.e., sulphuric acid (n=4) and hot pepper (n=3). The mean quantity administered was 158 +/- 64 ml. The presenting picture involved diffuse acute peritonitis in 7 cases and abdominal pain with bloody mucoid rectal discharge in 3. One patient died at the time of admission. The remaining patients underwent either operative (n=6) or medical (n=3) treatment. Prognosis was unfavourable. Four patients died and one patient required colostomy that could not be removed due to sclerosis of the anal sphincter. Management of rectal and colonic injuries induced by enemas requires differential diagnosis to distinguish patients that require emergency laparotomy from patients that can be treated medically. For patients treated medically, close surveillance based on imaging and repeated clinical examination is of paramount importance to allow diagnosis of complications requiring surgical treatment.