A Case of Pneumoperitoneum Secondary to Pneumatosis Intestinalis : Is Surgery Always Indicated ?

Abstract

113 PI is the presence of multiple gas cysts in the walls of the small and large intestines1. It could affect all ages and the estimated prevalence is 0.02% to 0.003% worldwide2. It could be primary or secondary1. The latter is usually associated with higher mortality rates, whereas the former is mostly benign and often considered an incidental finding. Most patients are asymptomatic. The condition is usually discovered either incidentally during a radiological investigation, during surgery or by the patient presenting with symptoms of the underlying disease3. Due to the rarity of this condition, very few cases have been reported in the literature. In Bahrain, there has been no similar case documented.