Another pneumoperitoneum on chest X-ray.
Pneumoperitoneum seen on X-ray with the patient lying on his left side.
Pneumoperitoneum is the presence of air or gas in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. It is often seen on X-ray, but small amounts are often missed, and CT is nowadays regarded as a criterion standard in the assessment of a pneumoperitoneum.[1] CT can visualize quantities as small as 5 cm³ of air or gas. The most common cause is a perforated abdominal viscus, generally a perforated peptic ulcer, although any part of the bowel may perforate from a benign ulcer, tumor or abdominal trauma. A perforated appendix seldom causes a pneumoperitoneum.
A pneumoperitoneum is deliberately created by the surgical team in order to perform laparoscopic surgery. This is achieved by insufflating the abdomen with carbon dioxide.
Causes [edit]
Differential diagnosis [edit]
Subphrenic abscess, bowel interposed between diaphragm and liver (Chilaiditi syndrome), and linear atelectasis at the base of the lungs can simulate free air under the diaphragm on a chest X-ray.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Ali Nawaz Khan. "eMedicine.com: Pneumoperitoneum".
- ^ Necrotizing Enterocolitis Bugs, Drugs and Things That Go Bump in the Night
