Gastric Pneumatosis After Accidental Ingestion of Concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide: A Case Report

Introduction: Hydrogen peroxide is a common oxidizing agent that if ingested may cause injury to the gastrointestinal tract or embolic events. Although therapy is primarily supportive, gastric perforation is a rare but serious complication of corrosive ingestion that may require surgical treatment. Case Report: We report the case of a 77-year-old male who presented for nausea and vomiting after accidentally ingesting approximately 150 milliliters of 35% hydrogen peroxide. Computed tomography revealed gastric pneumatosis and extensive portal venous air. The patient was admitted for observation with plans for endoscopy; however, due to the limitations of our small community hospital, he was transferred to a tertiary care center due to concern for a potential gastric perforation. Conclusion: The presence of portal venous air as a result of peroxide ingestion may be treated conservatively depending on presenting symptoms; however, severe injury such as gastrointestinal perforation may necessitate surgical intervention.

Gastroduodenal Emphysema with Portal Venous Air due to Congenital Duodenal Web in a Child: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Congenital duodenal web causing proximal duodenal obstruction leading to gastroduodenal emphysema is a very rare presentation in infancy. Due to persistent peristalsis against the duodenal membrane, there is progressive stretching of the duodenal web leading to windsock deformity. We describe a rare case of a child with gastroduodenal emphysema and portal venous air due to duodenal obstruction secondary to a duodenal web. An eighteen-month-old male child, who was under investigation for failure to thrive, presented with a history of persistent projectile vomiting and progressive abdominal distension for two days. The abdominal ultrasound scan revealed air within the portal vein and in the wall of the stomach. Plain X-ray abdomen confirmed the presence of gas in the gastric wall and in the proximal duodenal wall. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study revealed complete obstruction at the second part of the duodenum. The child underwent emergency laparotomy, which revealed a duodenal web as the cause of the duodenal obstruction. During the surgery, windsock deformity was noted. This case illustrates that although rare, proximal duodenal obstruction due to duodenal web may present in early childhood and that alarming imaging features such as gastric emphysema and portal venous air could be associated with benign conditions.