Free perforation in Crohn's colitis. A ten-year review.

A review of 198 patients with Crohn's disease of the colon who presented over a ten-year period identified six patients with free perforation of the colon (3 percent). Five were females and all were known to have pre-existing Crohn's disease. Four were taking oral corticosteroids at the time of perforation. The sole male presented with acute toxic dilatation of the colon and had not received previous steroids. Pneumoperitoneum was seen in five of the six patients. Subtotal colectomy with ileostomy appears to be the optimum treatment in patients presenting with this complication of Crohn's disease.