A Pneumonia Patient with Worsening Respiratory Distress by Chilaiditi Syndrome: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Chilaiditi sign refers to the presence of bowel gas under the right diaphragm which is similar in appearance to a pneumoperitoneum on radiography, and is caused by abnormal anatomic positioning of the colon or small bowel between the liver and the diaphragm. When symptoms are present, this condition is known as Chilaiditi syndrome. The most common symptoms are gastrointestinal. It has been less commonly associated with chronic, recurrent respiratory distress. We report acute respiratory distress without gastrointestinal symptoms exacerbated by Chilaiditi syndrome in a pneumonia patient with no history of chronic respiratory disease.