Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis with Non-surgical Encapsulated Pneumoperitoneum: Case Presentation and Literature Review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.908

Keywords:

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, pneumoperitoneum, Large intestine, Colonoscopy, Observation

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare entity characterized by cysts or air bubbles in the intestinal wall, usually asymptomatic. Its uncomplicated forms are managed conservatively, and the severe ones require surgical intervention. The presence of pneumoperitoneum is a disturbing radiological finding but not an indicator of surgical intervention.

Clinical case: A 23-year-old man presented with weight loss, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding; a colonoscopy showed multiple violaceous cysts in the sigmoid and descending colon that collapsed after puncture and biopsies. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed the diagnosis and the presence of an encapsulated pneumoperitoneum. The absence of signs of potential lethality allowed conservative treatment with clinical remission during the first eight months of follow-up.

Discussion: The pathophysiology of PCI is not well defined. Our patient’s diagnosis was incidental when performing a colonoscopy for rectal bleeding. Asymptomatic encapsulated pneumoperitoneum should be interpreted as an important but not decisive sign of surgical intervention. Its presence, along with the medical history and physical, biochemical, endoscopic, and imaging examination, can prevent unnecessary surgery.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Camilo Blanco Avellaneda, Unidad de Videoendoscopia del Restrepo Ltda.

Especialista en Cirugía Gastrointestinal y Endoscopia Digestiva, Unidad de Videoendoscopia del Restrepo Ltda. Uniendoscopia.com, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

Robin German Prieto Ortiz, Centro de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas CEHYD SAS

Especialista en Gastroenterología y Endoscopia Digestiva, Centro de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas CEHYD SAS, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

References

Du Vernoy JG. Aer intestinorum tam sub extima quam intima tunica inclusus: observationes anatomicae Acad. Acient Imp Petropol. 1730;5:213-25.

Rodríguez García R, Ramos Grande T, Muñoz Bellvís L. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: a rare cause of acute abdomen. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2020;112(10):813-814. https://doi.org/10.17235/reed.2020.6906/2020

Wu LL, Yang YS, Dou Y, Liu QS. A systematic analysis of pneumatosis cystoids intestinalis. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(30):4973-8. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v19.i30.4973

Di Pietropaolo M, Trinci M, Giangregorio C, Galluzzo M, Miele V. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: case report and review of literature. Clin J Gastroenterol. 2020;13(1):31-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-019-00999-3

Miwa W, Hiratsuka T, Sato K, Kato Y. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis lesions changing into yellowish plaque-like elastosis lesions during healing. Clin J Gastroenterol. 2020;13(6):1165-1172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-020-01130-7

Ling F, Guo D, Zhu L. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: a case report and literature review. BMC Gastroenterol. 2019;19(1):176. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-019-1087-9

Dawe N, Akhtar S. Pneumatosis intestinalis presenting with a pneumoperitoneum in a patient with chronic bronchiectasis: a delayed diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery ischaemia. BMJ Case Rep. 2010;2010:bcr0120102622. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.01.2010.2622

Wang YJ, Wang YM, Zheng YM, Jiang HQ, Zhang J. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: six case reports and a review of the literature. BMC Gastroenterol. 2018;18(1):100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-018-0794-y

Brighi M, Vaccari S, Lauro A, D’Andrea V, Pagano N, Marino IR, et al. “Cystamatic” Review: Is Surgery Mandatory for Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis? Dig Dis Sci. 2019;64(10):2769-2775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-019-05767-4

Nakatani K, Kato T, Okada S, Matsumoto R, Nishida K, Komuro H, et al. Successful treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis as a complication of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2017;11(1):263. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-017-1421-1

Takahashi K, Fujiya M, Ueno N, Ando K, Kashima S, Moriichi K, et al. Endoscopic Fine-Needle Aspiration Is Useful for the Treatment of Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis With Intussusception. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(1):13. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000000069

de la Serna S, Luna A, de la Rosa H. Intestinal pneumatosis and pneumoperitoneum in an oncological scenario: a change of attitude. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2018;110(1):68-69. https://doi.org/10.17235/reed.2017.5333/2017

Ribolla M, Conti L, Baldini E, Palmieri G, Grassi C, Banchini F, et al. Asymptomatic pneumoperitoneum in pneumatosis coli: A misleading operative indication. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020;69:92-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.03.042

Nishimura JM, Farzaneh T, Pigazzi A. Pneumatosis coli causing pneumoperitoneum. J Surg Case Rep. 2017;2017(1):rjw233. https://doi.org/10.1093/jscr/rjw233

DuBose JJ, Lissauer M, Maung AA, Piper GL, O’Callaghan TA, Luo-Owen X, et al. Pneumatosis Intestinalis Predictive Evaluation Study (PIPES): a multicenter epidemiologic study of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75(1):15-23. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318298486e

Camargo González NE, Benavides González MA, Parra Medina R, Pérez Hernández CJ. Neumatosis quística intestinal en un adulto joven sin antecedentes clínicos: reporte de caso. Revista colombiana de Gastroenterología. 2021;36(Supl. 1):47–51. https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.530

Figura 1. Colonoscopia. A y B. Múltiples imágenes quísticas en racimo en el sigmoide y descendente, con mucosa erosionada suprayacente por colitis aguda. C y D. Punción con aguja fina y succión de aire, sin salida de líquido, con colapso completo de la burbuja. E y F. Biopsia de la pared del quiste con colapso de la burbuja. Fuente: archivo de los autores.

Published

2023-03-28

How to Cite

Blanco Avellaneda, C., & Prieto Ortiz, R. G. (2023). Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis with Non-surgical Encapsulated Pneumoperitoneum: Case Presentation and Literature Review. Revista Colombiana De Gastroenterología, 38(1), 111–116. https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.908

Issue

Section

Case report

Altmetric

Crossref Cited-by logo
Article metrics
Abstract views
Galley vies
PDF Views
HTML views
Other views
QR Code

Some similar items: