Imaging diagnosis of a rare case of intermittent intestinal pneumatosis: A consequence of ileocecal valve clip dysfunction?

• Published in: Radiology case reports Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 780 - 784
• Main Authors: Russo, Anna, Patanè, Vittorio, Zaccaria, Carmine, Verolino, Pasquale, Cioce, Fabrizio, Stanzione, Francesco, Reginelli, Alfonso
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01-02-2024
• ISSN: 1930-0433; 1930-0433
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.11.031

Pneumatosis intestinalis is a condition characterized by the presence of gas or air pockets within the walls of the intestines. It can occur in any section of the gastrointestinal tract but it is most commonly found in the colon. Etiology and pathogenesis of PI are not yet fully understood, but several potential factors have been suggested to play a pivotal role in the development of this pathologic condition. Pneumatosis intestinalis seems to arise from a complex interplay between various factors, such as the integrity of the intestinal lining, pressure within the portal vein, the composition of the microbiological flora in the gut. Pneumatosis intestinalis can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions, such as bowel obstruction, intestinal ischemia, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, or certain medications. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and bloody stools. We present a case report of a 63-year-old male patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis with recurrent cholecystitis. Following the surgery, the patient experienced a rapid drop in hemoglobin levels, necessitating an urgency regimen laparoscopic abdominal exploration which revealed Meckel's diverticulitis with active bleeding leading to diverticulectomy. The next day, the patient developed a radiological condition characterized by the co-presence of intermittent pneumatosis intestinalis, Portal pneumatosis and intermittent small bowel obstruction.