PS02.152: DEVELOPMENT OF INTESTINAL PNEUMATOSIS AND PORTAL VENOUS GAS AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY IS NOT INDICATIVE OF ISCHEMIC BOWEL AND CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED NON-OPERATIVELY
Abstract Background Pneumatosis intestinalis has long been a marker of advanced bowel ischemia and prompts urgent laparotomy. In post-operative settings, the presence of pneumatosis represents a significant management dilemma. We share a case-series of post-esophagectomy patients with pneumatosis intestinalis and no corollary intra-abdominal pathologic findings on re-exploration. Methods January 2000 to December 2017, 1760 patients underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy or gastrectomy with jejunostomy-tube placement. Charts were reviewed retrospectively to identify patients with pneumatosis intestinalis discovered in the post-operative period. Demographic data, operative details and postoperative course were reviewed including incidence and details of re-exploration. Results Eleven patients met inclusion criteria. Nine were male (81.8%) and mean age was 69 years. All patients had radiographic confirmation of pneumatosis intestinalis and in many cases portal venous gas (Figure 1). Clinical course was variable without discernable trends in vitals or laboratory values. Development of significant postoperative ileus along with delivery of enteral tube feeds through a jejunostomy tube preceded development of the pneumatosis in all patients. Nine patients were re-explored and none had evidence of bowel ischemia. Conclusion The finding of pneumatosis intestinalis in the post-operative setting can be alarming and pose a management dilemma. With the advent of improved and readily available imaging, there has been an increase in findings that have no corollary physical symptomatology. In this series of patients, despite dramatic radiographic findings, none had ischemic bowel. Pneumatosis intestinalis alone in patients who have undergone esophagectomy should not be considered an indication for emergency re-exploration. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.