Pneumoperitoneum

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Pneumoperitoneum
Frontal chest X-ray. The air bubble below the right hemidiaphragm (on the left of the image) is a pneumoperitoneum.
ICD-10 K66.8
ICD-9 568.89, 770.2
DiseasesDB 31511
eMedicine radio/562 
MeSH D011027

WikiDoc Resources for Pneumoperitoneum

Articles

Most recent articles on Pneumoperitoneum

Most cited articles on Pneumoperitoneum

Review articles on Pneumoperitoneum

Articles on Pneumoperitoneum in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Pneumoperitoneum

Images of Pneumoperitoneum

Photos of Pneumoperitoneum

Podcasts & MP3s on Pneumoperitoneum

Videos on Pneumoperitoneum

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Pneumoperitoneum

Bandolier on Pneumoperitoneum

TRIP on Pneumoperitoneum

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Pneumoperitoneum at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Pneumoperitoneum

Clinical Trials on Pneumoperitoneum at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Pneumoperitoneum

NICE Guidance on Pneumoperitoneum

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Pneumoperitoneum

CDC on Pneumoperitoneum

Books

Books on Pneumoperitoneum

News

Pneumoperitoneum in the news

Be alerted to news on Pneumoperitoneum

News trends on Pneumoperitoneum

Commentary

Blogs on Pneumoperitoneum

Definitions

Definitions of Pneumoperitoneum

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Pneumoperitoneum

Discussion groups on Pneumoperitoneum

Patient Handouts on Pneumoperitoneum

Directions to Hospitals Treating Pneumoperitoneum

Risk calculators and risk factors for Pneumoperitoneum

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Pneumoperitoneum

Causes & Risk Factors for Pneumoperitoneum

Diagnostic studies for Pneumoperitoneum

Treatment of Pneumoperitoneum

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Pneumoperitoneum

International

Pneumoperitoneum en Espanol

Pneumoperitoneum en Francais

Business

Pneumoperitoneum in the Marketplace

Patents on Pneumoperitoneum

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Pneumoperitoneum

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Pneumoperitoneum is air or gas in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity[1], often seen on x-ray, but small amounts are often missed and CT is nowadays regarded as a criterion standard in the assessment of a pneumoperitoneum.[2].

Causes

The most common cause is a perforated abdominal viscus, generally a perforated ulcer, although any part of the bowel may perforate from a benign ulcer, tumor or trauma. A perforated appendix seldom causes a pneumoperitoneum. A pneumoperitoneum is deliberately created by the surgical team in order to perform laparoscopic surgery. This is achieved by insufflating the abdomen with carbon dioxide.

Subphrenic abscess, bowel interposed between diaphragm and liver (Chilaiditi syndrome), and linear atelectasis at the base of the lungs can simulate free air under the diaphragm on a chest x-ray.

Diagnosis

Chest X-ray

Plain film signs of pneumoperitoneum

  • Rigler's sign (gas outlining both mucosal and serosal surfaces of bowel wall)
  • Falciform ligament sign (gas outlining the falciform ligament)
  • Football sign (gas outlining the peritoneal cavity)

CT

CT can visualize quantities as small as 5 cm³ of air or gas.

See also

References

  1. The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary. "KMLE American Heritage Medical Dictionary definition of pneumoperitoneum".
  2. Ali Nawaz Khan. "eMedicine.com: Pneumoperitoneum".

Template:WH Template:WS