Spontaneous Pneumoperitoneum Presenting as an Acute Abdomen

Division

Continental

Hospital

Swedish Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

2-14-2024

Keywords

idiopathic pneumoperitoneum, pneumoperitoneum, spontaneous pneumoperitoneum

Disciplines

Digestive System Diseases | Medicine and Health Sciences | Surgery

Abstract

Most cases of pneumoperitoneum with associated peritonitis are due to perforation of a hollow viscus. In cases where hollow viscus perforation is not the cause, the pneumoperitoneum is classified as spontaneous and typically can be further subcategorized into thoracic, abdominal, gynecologic, and idiopathic categories. Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum is classically seen in asymptomatic patients, however in a small number of cases patients can present with a concomitant peritonitis. This case report presents a patient that had signs of sepsis and peritonitis with moderate pneumoperitoneum on computed tomography (CT) imaging but was found to have no perforated hollow viscus after an extensive operative and non-operative work up.

Publisher or Conference

Journal of Surgical Case Reports

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