Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients?
Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is the presence of gas within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and represents a tremendous spectrum of conditions and outcomes, ranging from benign diseases to abdominal sepsis and death. It is seen with increased frequency in patients who are immunocompromised be...
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Karger Publishers
2009-09-01
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doaj-0c29668924414d8a9c966c79ab1605f72020-11-24T23:28:36ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Gastroenterology1662-06312009-09-013328629210.1159/000236596236596Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients?Ayman Al-TalibFahd Al-GhtaniRoni MunkPneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is the presence of gas within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and represents a tremendous spectrum of conditions and outcomes, ranging from benign diseases to abdominal sepsis and death. It is seen with increased frequency in patients who are immunocompromised because of steroids, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or AIDS. PI may result from intraluminal bacterial gas entering the bowel wall due to increased mucosal permeability caused by defects in bowel wall lymphoid tissue. We present a case of PI who was treated conservatively and in whom PI resolved completely and we present a literature review of conservative management. It is not difficult to make a precise diagnosis of PI and to prevent unnecessary surgical intervention, especially when PI presents without clinical evidence of peritonitis. Conservative treatment is possible and safe for selected patients. Awareness of these rare causes of PI and close observation of selected patients without peritonitis may prevent unnecessary invasive surgical explorations.http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/236596Pneumatosis intestinalisConservative management |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ayman Al-Talib Fahd Al-Ghtani Roni Munk |
spellingShingle |
Ayman Al-Talib Fahd Al-Ghtani Roni Munk Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients? Case Reports in Gastroenterology Pneumatosis intestinalis Conservative management |
author_facet |
Ayman Al-Talib Fahd Al-Ghtani Roni Munk |
author_sort |
Ayman Al-Talib |
title |
Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients? |
title_short |
Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients? |
title_full |
Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients? |
title_fullStr |
Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Can We Avoid Surgical Intervention in Nonsurgical Patients? |
title_sort |
pneumatosis intestinalis: can we avoid surgical intervention in nonsurgical patients? |
publisher |
Karger Publishers |
series |
Case Reports in Gastroenterology |
issn |
1662-0631 |
publishDate |
2009-09-01 |
description |
Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is the presence of gas within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and represents a tremendous spectrum of conditions and outcomes, ranging from benign diseases to abdominal sepsis and death. It is seen with increased frequency in patients who are immunocompromised because of steroids, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or AIDS. PI may result from intraluminal bacterial gas entering the bowel wall due to increased mucosal permeability caused by defects in bowel wall lymphoid tissue. We present a case of PI who was treated conservatively and in whom PI resolved completely and we present a literature review of conservative management. It is not difficult to make a precise diagnosis of PI and to prevent unnecessary surgical intervention, especially when PI presents without clinical evidence of peritonitis. Conservative treatment is possible and safe for selected patients. Awareness of these rare causes of PI and close observation of selected patients without peritonitis may prevent unnecessary invasive surgical explorations. |
topic |
Pneumatosis intestinalis Conservative management |
url |
http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/236596 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT aymanaltalib pneumatosisintestinaliscanweavoidsurgicalinterventioninnonsurgicalpatients AT fahdalghtani pneumatosisintestinaliscanweavoidsurgicalinterventioninnonsurgicalpatients AT ronimunk pneumatosisintestinaliscanweavoidsurgicalinterventioninnonsurgicalpatients |
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1725548901988040704 |