Background and study aims: Delayed perforation is a rare complication of therapeutic colonoscopy, and it is
severe and sometimes lethal. This paper reports on a new minimally invasive method
for the treatment of delayed colonic perforation.
Patients and methods: Three patients with delayed colonic perforation underwent the therapy, which involved
three steps: (1) closure with endoclips and loop, (2) overtube placement, and (3)
antibiotic wash through a nasobiliary tube.
Results: The procedure was successful in all three patients and no recurrence was observed
during 5 – 41 months of follow-up.
Conclusions: Although this study involved only a small number of patients and no control arm,
the method involving an overtube appears to be a feasible and effective endoscopic
treatment for delayed colonic perforation.
