Intramural gastric air in an acutely ill patient with endoscopic and surgical correlation

Abstract

Intramural gastric air is a rare but potentially life-threatening imaging finding. We present the case of a 56-year-old female patient with a history of schizophrenia, who presented with multiple episodes of vomiting and altered mental status. CT scan revealed intramural gastric air and portal venous gas. The patient was treated conservatively with a favorable outcome. Gastric emphysema and emphysematous gastritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of air in the gastric wall. It is critical to distinguish between these 2 entities as their clinical course and management differ significantly, although radiographic findings may mimic each other.

Keywords

• Intramural gastric air
• Portal venous gas
• Gastric pneumatosis
• Gastric emphysema
• Emphysematous gastritis