1. Pneumatosis Intestinalis Presenting as Small Bowel Obstruction without Bowel Ischemia after Mechanical Ventilation
- Author
-
Young Sun Yoo, Dong Joon Kim, and Yong Joon Choi
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Bowel ischemia ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Case Report ,Aspiration pneumonia ,Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine ,Critical Care Nursing ,Gastroenterology ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Pneumoperitoneum ,law ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Pneumatosis intestinalis ,pulmonary emphysema ,Mechanical ventilation ,pneumatosis intestinalis ,business.industry ,lcsh:Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid ,lcsh:RC86-88.9 ,medicine.disease ,intestinal obstruction ,Intensive care unit ,Bowel obstruction ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Etiology ,030211 gastroenterology & hepatology ,Radiology ,medicine.symptom ,business - 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.
- Published
- 2017