Pneumatosis intestinalis and mesenteric venous gas - a manifestation of bacterascites in a patient with cirrhosis

J Postgrad Med. 2011 Jan-Mar;57(1):42-3. doi: 10.4103/0022-3859.74287.

Abstract

We herein report a patient with decompensated cirrhosis secondary to autoimmune hepatitis, who presented with pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) and portal venous gas. Mesenteric ischemia has been recognized as a common and life-threatening cause of PI which portends a grave prognosis. The patient was found to have bacterascites and recovered after appropriate antibiotic therapy. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis/bacterascites with gas-forming organisms manifesting as PI has not been previously reported.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Embolism, Air / complications
  • Embolism, Air / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Fibrosis / complications
  • Gases
  • Haemophilus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Haemophilus Infections / drug therapy
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology
  • Haemophilus parainfluenzae / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Mesenteric Veins / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / etiology
  • Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / therapy
  • Portal Vein / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gases