Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (Oct 2015)

Fatal Tension Pneumoperitoneum Due to Non-Accidental Trauma

  • Stephen L. Thornton,
  • Jeremy Hunter,
  • Mark Scott

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2015.7.28022
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 5
pp. 788 – 789

Abstract

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A previously healthy two-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with vomiting. He was cyanotic with mottling of both lower extremities. He was in respiratory distress with retractions and diminished breath sounds. His abdomen was distended and rigid. He had a pulse of 170 beats per minute, blood pressure of 144/69mmHg and respiratory rate of 42 breaths per minute. He was endotracheally intubated. Chest and abdominal radiographs demonstrated a tension pneumoperitoneum.

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