[Problems of the so-called spontaneous intestinal perforation].

Among 250 cases of perforation of the large and small bowel during the past 5 years there were 11 patients in whom the cause of the perforation was not clear at first and which were labeled spontaneous. After thorough investigation a satisfactory explanation for the perforation of the apparently normal bowel could be given for all patients. The most frequent causes were distention of the bowel wall, particularly of the cecum, and ischemic enterocolitis. We consider the incidence of really spontaneous bowel perforations very unlikely.