Stercoraceous perforation of the colon.

Non-traumatic colon perforations are usually caused by malignancy, diverticulum and colitis. They rarely result from stool impaction. A 74-year-old woman with stercoracous perforation of the colon is reported. She had a long history of constipation and hypertension treated irregularly with cathartics, enemas, diuretics and beta-blockers. Resection of the perforated colon with a proximal diverting colostomy and Hartman's procedure was performed. The patient tolerated the operation and subsequent reanastomosis 6 weeks later. In the case of elderly patients with constipation, early management of the constipation is mandatory, although this condition of stercoraceous perforation is rare.