Clinical Predictors and Outcomes for Recurrent Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Children: A Case Control Study

Pneumatosis intestinalis in a pediatric patient

A 4-month-old girl was admitted to the emergency department with gastric vomiting and bloody diarrhea. On physical examination, the abdomen was distended, painful, with evidence of peritoneal irritation. The abdominal X-ray showed the presence of intraluminal gas in the ascending colon, sigmoid, and rectum. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, finding pneumatosis from the transverse colon to the distal sigmoid, without perforation or other findings. The patient had a history of type IIIa intestinal atresia at birth, which resolved without complications. At directed questioning, there was no history of other pathological antecedents. There were no more findings in the complete physical examination. After surgery, she continued to breastfeed, the stool pattern was regular, and the X-Ray did not show pneumatosis again.