[Of what relevance is the diagnosis of "pneumatosis intestinalis" and portal gas for the surgeon?].

Abstract	Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) describes the existence of gas in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract; portal gas (PG) describes gas in the portovenous system. Both are predominantly diagnosed radiologically (computed tomography as the most sensitive method) and do not represent per se self-contained syndromes, but PI and PG are possible symptoms of a variety of diseases. Possible sources of gas are bacterial gas (e. g., bowel wall invasion by aerogenic bacteria), intraluminal and extraluminal enteric gas (e. g., increased intraluminal pressure e.g. endoscopy), and pulmonary gas (e. g., COPD). The treatment of PI /PG depends on the underlying disease. The decision for laparotomy/ laparoscopy should be a conclusion of clinical and possibly radiological signs. Since in many cases, the simultaneous detection of PI and PG, is caused by mesenterial ischemia and has a poor prognosis, in these cases, the decision for operation (laparotomy/ laparoscopy) should be made liberally. A symptomatic therapy with metronidazole and oxygen should be considered, if despite the adequate treatment of the underlying disease, PI continues with abdominal symptoms (such as intestinal pseudo-obstruction or nonspecific abdominal pain).
Authors	D Bausch, U T Hopt, R Obermaier
Journal	Zentralblatt fur Chirurgie (Zentralbl Chir) Vol. 134 Issue 3 Pg. 203-8 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1438-9592 [Electronic] Germany
Vernacular Title	Welche Bedeutung hat die Diagnose "Pneumatosis intestinalis" und "Portal Gas" für den Chirurgen?
PMID	19536712 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)
Topics	Adult Aged Colon (blood supply) Combined Modality Therapy Embolism, Air (diagnosis, etiology, surgery, therapy) Female Humans Ileum (blood supply) Ischemia (diagnosis, etiology, surgery, therapy) Male Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion (diagnosis, etiology, therapy) Middle Aged Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis (diagnosis, etiology, surgery) Portal Vein Prognosis Sensitivity and Specificity Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.

Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!