Return to search

Asymptomatic Free Air: An Abnormal Presentation of Pneumatosis

Pneumatosis intestinalis, air within the bowel wall, continues to have an elusive etiology due to its varied clinical presentation and associated disease processes. Pneumatosis may be an incidental finding on a routine CT Scan or it could present as peritonitis with intra-abdominal free air. The pathogenesis, therefore, is likely to be multifactorial rather than directly related to one particular, inciting pathology. Here we present a case of a 73-year-old male scheduled for a non-emergent incisional hernia repair who was found to have peritoneal free air without physical exam findings of peritonitis. This unusual case illustrates a rare presentation of small bowel, omental, and abdominal wall pneumatosis. The objective of this presentation is to broaden the clinician’s understanding of pneumatosis intestinalis, including a recommendation to discern the underlying illness as emergent or benign. Finally, we make the case for clinical intuition and the physical exam.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:asrf-1314
Date12 April 2019
CreatorsCarey, Andrew J, Garner, Joseph, Guarderas, Mateo, MD, Vance, John, DO, Floresguerra, Carlos, MD
PublisherDigital Commons @ East Tennessee State University
Source SetsEast Tennessee State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
SourceAppalachian Student Research Forum

Page generated in 0.0022 seconds