An avoidable abdominal surgery: pneumatosis coli.

ABSTRACT

We report on the case of a 90-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with constipation for 1 week and abdominal fullness for 2 days. Abdominal plain film radiography disclosed intramural air in the colon, which indicated pneumatosis coli (PC). Exploratory laparotomy was performed immediately under the impression of ischemic bowel disease. Through examination of the mesentery, the intestine and colon revealed no sign of perforation and ischemia. Surgery for PC is limited to patients with signs of perforation, peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscess, or bowel ischemia. Conservative treatment with oxygen supply, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and antibiotics remain to be the mainstay for most patients with PC.