Pneumoperitoneum usually indicates rupture of a hollow viscus and considered a surgical emergency. But air may also enter the peritoneum from the lung or the genital organs in female without visceral perforation. While scuba diving, the rapid ascent is usually controlled by placing in a decompression chamber and the excess gas volume is exhaled. Failure to allow this excess gas to escape will result in overdistension of air passage, which may rupture resulting in pulmonary interstitial emphysema or, if air enters the circulation, air embolus can occur. Pneumo-peritoneum is a rare complication of diving accidents. While the majority of cases are not related to an intraabdominal catastrophy, more than 20% have been the result of gastric rupture. We report a 42-yr-old male patient with massive pneumoperitoneum after scuba diving, who presented himself with dyspnea and abdominal distension. Knowledge of this rare condition and its benign course may allow the emergency physician and surgeon to order appropriate studies to help avoid unnecessary surgical treatment. It is important to determine promptly whether the air emanated from a ruptured viscus or was introduced from an extraperitoneal source. Free air in the abdomen does not always indicate a ruptured intra-abdominal viscus.
Adult ; Diving/adverse effects* ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Pneumoperitoneum/diagnosis* ; Pneumoperitoneum/etiology* ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Radiography, Thoracic

The initial radiologic evaluation of a patient with acute abdominal symptoms begins with plain abdominal radiographs. Plain abdominal radiographs are helpful for the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction and pneumoperitoneum. However, cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography or computed tomography, are necessary for specific diagnosis of acute abdomen. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive and comfortable tool for patients visiting emergency room. This article describes the ultrasonographic findings of most common diseases presenting with acute abdominal symptoms.
Abdomen, Acute* ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Ultrasonography*

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a life-threatening suppurative infection of the renal parenchyma, with formation of gas within the collecting system, renal parenchyma, or perirenal tissues. Since Kelly and MacCullum reported the first case of pneumaturia from a gas-forming renal infection, several terms have been used to describe the condition, such as renal emphysema, pneumonephritis, and emphysematous pyelonephritis. We describe a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis, which presented as an acute abdomen with pneumoperitoneum and pneumomediastinum in a diabetic patient. A subsequent exploratory laparotomy did not identify the site of visceral perforation or the source of infection, and an ensuing nephrectomy with intensive antibiotic therapy was lifesaving. Occasionally, retroperitoneal infection can contaminate the peritoneal cavity and produce gas to create pneumoperitoneum, and retroperitoneal air can migrate to the mediastinum to create a pneumomediastinum. Therefore, we recommend that a differential diagnosis of a pneumoperitoneum or a pneumomediastinum should also include retroperitoneal infection, such as emphysematous pyelonephritis.
Abdomen, Acute ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Mediastinum ; Nephrectomy ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Pyelonephritis*

Small bowel diverticulosis is a rare finding within all bowel diverticuloses and jejunal diverticulosis is even rarer. Their relative clinical rarity and varied presentation may make diagnosis both delayed and difficult. We experienced a case of jejunal diverticulosis, which was diagnosed intraoperatively. A 55-year-old woman was admitted to Emergency Department with pneumoperitoneum on plain chest and abdominal film from a local clinic. She was hemodynamically stable with minimal tenderness on the left upper quadrant of the abdomen but no rebound tenderness. At surgery, small bowel torsion and jejunal diverticulosis were confirmed. Over 30 variable sized small bowel diverticula were noted on the mesenteric side of the proximal jejunum. The affected segment of the jejunum was about 180 cm. On exploration, we could not find any perforation site. No postoperative complications were observed, and the patient made a full recovery. Jejunal diverticulosis is rare, but it should not be regarded as insignificant.
Abdomen ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulum* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Postoperative Complications ; Thorax

PURPOSE: To determine the most helpful abdominal CT findings in patients with small bowel perforation withoutpneumoperitoneum or oral contrast leakage after blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzedthe abdominal CT findings of 51 patients with small bowel perforation without pneumoperitoneum or oral contrastleakage. A score of 2 was assigned if bowel wall thickening of more than 5 mm or enhancement of the bowel wall wasdefinite, and 1 if equivocal thickening or enhancement of the bowel wall, mesenteric infiltration, sentinelclotting, intermesenteric fluid, or ileus were observed. According to the score, each finding was classified asstrongly positive(5-8), possibly positive(3-4), or probably negative(1-2), and the accuracy of each classificationwas evalvated. We decided which findings would be most helpful when attempting to diagnose small bowelperforation. RESULTS: Forty one bowel perforations and four mesenteric injuries were identified in 45laparatomies among 51 patients. In all 20 patients with a score of more than 5, small bowel perforation was foundon surgery. The prevalence rate of bowel wall thickening and enhancement was significantly different betweenpatients with perforation(88%, 80% respectively) and those without (20%, 40% respectively)(p<0.05). Thesensitivity, specificity and accuracy ; of each criterion were compared (sum of scoring of all CTfindings > or = 3:82.9% 40% 74.5%, scoring of bowel wall thickening and enhancement > or = 2: 82.9% 80% 82.4%), and itwas found that for specificity and accuracy, the latter was superior to the former. ROC analysis using the scoresof each criterion as cut-off value also showed that the curve of the latter showed a more marked upward trend andwas the most helpful parameter. CONCLUSION: When diagnosing small bowel perforation in the absence ofpneumoperitoneum or oral contrast leakage after blunt abdominal trauma, bowel wall thickening and enhancement weremore helpful parameters than the sum of all CT findings.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Ileus ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The pneumoretroperitoneum has many etiologies. These range from the clinically insignificant to the potentially fatal, if not recognized promptly. Spontaneous pneumoretroperitoneum can develope from ulcerative colitis, colonic diverti-culitis, or duodenal ulcer perforation. It can be associated with pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, respiratoy tract rupture, etc. An isolated pneumoretroperitoneum are a more obscure symptom than a pneumoperitoneum. Mostly, the diagnosis of retroperitoneal air depends of radiologic methods, such as simple X-ray, ultrasound (US), or computerized tomography (CT) measurements. In this case, we diagnosed a pneumoretroperitoneum from CT and found that it caused the perforation of the colon spontaneously, without any underlying diseases, due to chronic constipation without underlying diseases
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Pneumothorax ; Retropneumoperitoneum* ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography

Flexible fiberoptic colonoscopy is extensively used for the diagnosis and management of colorectal disease. Many possible complications can occur. The most common and most serious complications are hemorrhage, perforation and respiratory problems. Colonic perforation usually results in a fatal and emergent condition. However, management of iatrogenic colonic perforation has been controversial. The choice between the medical versus the surgical approach has been dependent on the mechanism of the perforation, bowel preparation, location, size of the defect and severity of symptoms. We report here a case where colonic perforation emerged during endoscopic submucosal resection of a rectal tumor. The rectal perforation was accompanied with pneumoperitoneum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumomediastinum. As the bowel preparation was excellent, intravenous antibiotics and total parenteral nutirition were administered. The patient was treated successfully without any complications.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Retropneumoperitoneum* ; Subcutaneous Emphysema*

Flexible fiberoptic colonoscopy is extensively used for the diagnosis and management of colorectal disease. Many possible complications can occur. The most common and most serious complications are hemorrhage, perforation and respiratory problems. Colonic perforation usually results in a fatal and emergent condition. However, management of iatrogenic colonic perforation has been controversial. The choice between the medical versus the surgical approach has been dependent on the mechanism of the perforation, bowel preparation, location, size of the defect and severity of symptoms. We report here a case where colonic perforation emerged during endoscopic submucosal resection of a rectal tumor. The rectal perforation was accompanied with pneumoperitoneum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumomediastinum. As the bowel preparation was excellent, intravenous antibiotics and total parenteral nutirition were administered. The patient was treated successfully without any complications.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Retropneumoperitoneum* ; Subcutaneous Emphysema*

Acute appendicitis is very rare in premature neonates. Preoperative diagnosis of this condition is difficult, and then it leads to high morbidity and mortality. We report 9-day-old premature male with ruptured acute appendicitis presented with pneumoperitoneum on plain films of the abdomen. Awareness of this rare condition and possible differential diagnosis in this age group is also discussed.
Abdomen ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pneumoperitoneum

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is a rare condition which is characterized by multiple gas-filled cysts of varying sizes in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. In 85% of the cases, it is associated with gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and connective tissue diseases or with other conditions. In about 15% of the cases, the etiology remains obscure. In most cases, the prognosis is poor, so early diagnosis and treatment are required. We report two cases of primary pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis with portal venous gas which were associated with alcoholism and diabetes mellites and which were complicated by pneumoperitoneum and panperitonitis.
Alcoholism ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Early Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis* ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis