Pneumatosis Intestinalis Presenting as Small Bowel Obstruction without Bowel Ischemia after Mechanical Ventilation

Dong Joon Kim; Yong Joon Choi; Young Sun Yoo

doi:10.4266/acc.2016.00311

Pneumatosis Intestinalis Presenting as Small Bowel Obstruction without Bowel Ischemia after Mechanical Ventilation

Acute Crit Care. 2019 Feb;34(1):81-85. doi: 10.4266/acc.2016.00311. Epub 2017 Jan 17.

Authors

Dong Joon Kim¹, Yong Joon Choi¹, Young Sun Yoo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
² Department of Surgery, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.

Abstract

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a rare condition of the presence of gas within the bowel walls. PI is associated with numerous underlying diseases, ranging from life-threatening to innocuous conditions. PI is believed to be secondary to coexisting disorders in approximately 85% of all cases. This paper reviews the case of a patient who was diagnosed 7 years prior with pneumoperitoneum from unknown causes without any symptoms. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for the management of aspiration pneumonia and developed extensive PI after mechanical ventilation, presenting as small bowel obstruction with mesenteric torsion. Although the exact mechanism and etiology of PI are unclear, this case provides an update on the imaging features of and the clinical conditions associated with PI, as well as the management of this condition.

Keywords: intestinal obstruction; pneumatosis intestinalis; pulmonary emphysema.

Publication types

Case Reports