598: MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF PORTAL VENOUS GAS AND PNEUMATOSIS INTESTINALIS

Hepatic portal vein gas was first describes in 1955 by Wolf and Evans. It is a rare and severe condition that in 80% of cases leads to patient’s death. Most common causes are :necrotizing enterocolitis, mesenteric ischemia, sepsis , intestinal perforation. A 73-year old male patient underwent an elective rectal amputation for anal adenocarcinoma, after radiotherapy.In the 12th postoperative day the clinical state of the patient degraded, with onset of acute abdominal pain and fever.A CT scan and ultrasound examination showed the presence of hepatic portal venous gas with of pneumatosis intestinalis and an abcess in the pelvic region.Intraoperatively, two small perforations were found at the distal jejunun with no ischemia or necrosis. An ileostomy was performed, with drainage of the peritoneal cavity.Post-operatively the patient was stabilized and was eventually discharged in stable condition .The presence of hepatic portal venous gas with the of pneumatosis intestinalis is most frequently associated with ischemic bowel, ileus, diverticulitis, gastric distention, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hypotension post dialysis treatment, decompression sickness, trauma and iatrogenic causes from instrumentation and recent surgery.

Download Full-text

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

Diseases of the Esophagus ◽

10.1093/dote/doy089.ps02.152 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 164-164

Author(s):

Erin Gillaspie ◽

Micheal Moynagh ◽

Sameh Said ◽

Mark Allen ◽

Shanda Blackmon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Case Series ◽

Pneumatosis Intestinalis ◽

Bowel Ischemia ◽

Tube Placement ◽

Jejunostomy Tube ◽

Radiographic Findings ◽

Intestinal Pneumatosis ◽

Ischemic Bowel ◽

Portal Venous Gas

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.

Download Full-text