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Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum: Diagnostic and management difficulties
Author(s) -
Mann Caroline M,
Bhati Chandra S,
Gemmell David,
Doyle Peter,
Gupta Vibhore,
Gorman David F
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01357.x
Subject(s) - pneumoperitoneum , medicine , laparotomy , presentation (obstetrics) , abdominal pain , chest radiograph , general surgery , surgical emergency , acute abdominal pain , surgery , laparoscopy , radiography
Acute abdominal pain is a common presentation to the ED. Most patients undergo a chest radiograph as part of their initial investigations, which occasionally reveals pneumoperitoneum. Pneumoperitoneum on imaging suggests a perforated hollow abdominal viscus and therefore often constitutes a surgical emergency. However, if the patient is neither peritonitic nor septic a management dilemma is faced. Some cases of pneumoperitoneum might be managed conservatively thus avoiding unnecessary laparotomy. We present a case of recurrent spontaneous pneumoperitoneum with abdominal pain that was managed conservatively and discuss the possible aetiologies and management issues of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum.