Pneumatosis Intestinalis Complicated by Pneumoperitoneum in a Patient with Asthma

Abstract

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a very rare condition that is defined as the presence of gas within the subserosal or submucosal layer of the bowel. PI has been described in association with a variety of conditions including gastrointestinal tract disorders, pulmonary diseases, connective tissue disorders, organ transplantation, leukemia, and various immunodeficiency states. We report a rare case of a 74-year-old woman who complained of dyspnea during the management of acute asthma exacerbation and developed PI; but, it improved without any treatment.

Pathology of emphysematous reticulitis in cattle: report of two cases and comparative overview of similar or identical conditions

“…However, the conditions in most of human patients and affected animals may have a relatively harmless, usually asymptomatic course with no specific symptoms unless the development of pathological changes is secondary to those underlying disorders which include pulmonary diseases-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and interstitial pneumonia. Such underlying disorders have been especially taken into consideration in cases of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in human beings (Hughes et al 1966;Wyatt 1972;Galandiuk and Fazio 1986;Gyrany et al 2005;Wo et al 2013;Choi et al 2014). It is presumable that the conditions themselves do not always become clinically evident in affected individuals and may be of low epidemiological significance, although impairment of the local lymphatic circulation in affected organs cannot be ruled out.…”

“…It is presumable that the conditions themselves do not always become clinically evident in affected individuals and may be of low epidemiological significance, although impairment of the local lymphatic circulation in affected organs cannot be ruled out. Further critical comparative studies across the spectrum of Hughes et al 1966, Wyatt 1972, Horn and Fine 1977, Read et al 1984, Galandiuk and Fazio 1986, Gaqliardi et al 1996, Antosz and Zaniewski 2004, Gyrany et al 2005, Azzaroli et al 2011, Wo et al 2013, Choi et al 2014, Klimova et al 2014, Grimm et al 2015, Kancherla et al 2015, Hanna et al 2016, Kinjo 2016 Cattle Granulomatous lymphangitis with interstitial pulmonary emphysema Ohfuji 1993 Emphysematous-granulomatous lymphadenitis Ohfuji 1994 Emphysematous eosinophilic lymphangitis in the rumen…”

“…Previously published reports of these relevant conditions are listed under various diagnostic terms in Table 1. The conditions may affect some different organs-the intestine of human beings (Hughes et al 1966;Wyatt 1972;Horn and Fine 1977;Read et al 1984;Galandiuk and Fazio 1986;Gaqliardi et al 1996;Antosz and Zaniewski 2004;Gyrany et al 2005;Azzaroli et al 2011;Wo et al 2013;Choi et al 2014;Klimova et al 2014;Grimm et al 2015;Kancherla et al 2015;Hanna et al 2016;Kinjo 2016), pig (Biester et al 1936;Eveleth and Biester 1938;Egerton and Murrell 1965;Meyer and Simon 1977), dog (Degner 1992), rabbit (Peris et al 2005), mouse (Takahashi et al 1984), and poultry (Biester et al 1936;Cohrs 1966); lung of cattle (Ohfuji 1993); lymph node of cattle (Ohfuji 1994) and horse (Mendoza et al 2011); and rumen of cattle (Ohfuji 2015).…”

Pneumatosis intestinalis in a patient with COVID-19

“…14 There is literature that suggests a relationship between PI and use of systemic corticosteroids. [15][16][17] Although GI symptoms have been reported since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, to date, there is limited literature regarding the association of PI with the COVID-19 virus. 18 19 Diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting are commonly reported GI symptoms associated with COVID-19.…”

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis presenting as pneumoperitoneum in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case report

“…In such cases, alveolar gas dissects along the aorta within the mediastinum, through the diaphragm and into the mesenteric blood vessels, breaching the bowel wall and then becoming trapped in the bowel wall to form cysts. Our medical literature search yielded several previous case reports of PCI presumably caused by the pulmonary theory mechanism [ 6 , 7 ]. These cases presented similar clinical characteristics and did not require laparotomy as seen in the present case.…”