COLONIC BAROTRAUMA BY COMPRESSED AIR

Compressed air finds a lot of use in various industries. Workers in these varied industries also use it to dust off their clothes at the end of their shifts. One would think it is not uncommon for workers to play pranks on their fellow workers as the air hose is too tempting. But little are they informed about the serious and even fatal consequences of such pranks. A compressed air hose pointed at the anus even though not in direct contact with it can lead to serious consequences to the colon within seconds. Here we present a case of extensive barotrauma to the colon in a foundry worker who was subjected to a cruel prank by his fellow workers. The patient developed extensive seromuscular tears in the colon and a single perforation in the transverse colon which was managed surgically and the patient made a full recovery