What causes pneumatosis intestinalis?

Pneumatosis is found secondary to mucosal disruption presumably due to over-distention from peptic ulcer, pyloric stenosis, annular pancreas, and even to more distal obstruction. Disruption can also be caused by ulceration, erosions, or trauma, including the trauma of child abuse.

What is Pneumatosis Cystoides intestinalis?

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of gaseous cysts containing nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide[1] in the intestinal wall that may be iatrogenic[2-5] or associated with a wide variety of conditions[6-9].

What are the symptoms of pneumatosis intestinalis?

Patients with PI commonly present with gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, but some present with no symptomatology. It is a relatively uncommon condition, with an incidence in the general population estimated to be 0.03%.

Is pneumatosis intestinalis life threatening?

Pneumatosis intestinalis is defined as the presence of gas within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Originally described on plain abdominal radiographs, it is an imaging sign rather than a specific diagnosis and it is associated with both benign and life-threatening clinical conditions.

What causes Pneumatosis in infants?

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in children is associated with immunosuppression, mucosal disruption from trauma, obstructive pulmonary disease, congenital heart disease, and gastrointestinal infections.

Is pneumatosis intestinalis an infection?

PNEUMATOSIS intestinalis (PI), the presence of gas within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is not a diagnosis but a physical or radiographic finding that is the result of an underlying pathologic process.

What is Pneumatosis in newborn?

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a rare form of an air leak into the gastric and intestinal wall, and used as an imaging sign often in sick preterm infants to diagnose necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).

Is Pneumoperitoneum serious?

Surgical Pneumoperitoneum can be expressed as Pneumoperitoneum-induced Peritonitis, as the leak of air and gut content results in that serious condition, which requires emergent surgical management.