Small Bowel Diverticulosis As a Cause of Chronic Pneumoperitoneum

Abstract

Pneumoperitoneum, or the accumulation of free air in the peritoneal cavity, is commonly associated with visceral perforation, mandating emergent surgical intervention. Non-surgical pneumoperitoneum, where visceral perforation is not the cause, does not commonly require surgical management. Chronic pneumoperitoneum secondary to small bowel diverticulosis is rare. Of all gastrointestinal diverticular diseases, jejunoileal diverticulosis is the rarest form. We describe a case of chronic pneumoperitoneum in an 83-year-old male presenting with intermittent abdominal distension and constipation over five years resulting in many presentations to his rural hospital. There were never any associated signs of sepsis such as fever or tachycardia. A computed tomography scan revealed large volume pneumoperitoneum without evidence of perforated viscera or free fluid. An elective diagnostic laparoscopy revealed extensive small bowel diverticular disease. One of the diverticuli exhibited pneumotosis intestinalis where bubbles of gas were noted within the diverticulum wall and mesentery in the local vicinity. Given the extent of the small bowel diverticular disease, the patient's advanced age, and relative lack of symptoms, bowel resection was not undertaken and the patient was managed conservatively. This article illustrates a case of chronic pneumoperitoneum due to small bowel diverticulosis. It highlights the differential diagnoses for chronic pneumoperitoneum, increases awareness of this rare and challenging condition, and portrays the utility of conservative management avoiding major surgery and its potential complications.