An Unusual Pediatric Case with Spontaneous Pneumoperitoneum: Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis Induced by Constipation

Abstract

Pneumoperitoneum almost always indicates a perforation. However, perforation is not detected approximately 5% to 15% of all exploratory laparotomies and it is called spontaneous pneumoperitoneum (SP). One of the rare causes of SP is Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI). An 11-year-old female patient was transferred to the pediatric emergency department due to suspicion of intestinal perforation. Erect abdominal X-ray revealed pneumoperitoneum below the right diaphragm. Emergent exploratory laparotomy was performed. No perforation was detected during exploratory laparotomy. Both the absence of fever, peritoneal irritation signs and normal biochemical parameters SP must be considered. It should be kept in mind that PCI induced by constipation may be a cause of SP.

Keywords

• spontaneous pneumoperitoneum
• perforation
• pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis