Reappraisal of radiographic signs of pneumoperitoneum at emergency department

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivities of the reported free air signs on supine chest and abdominal radiographs of hollow organ perforation. We also verified the value of supine radiographic images as compared with erect chest and decubitus abdominal radiographs in detection of pneumoperitoneum.

Methods

Two hundred fifty cases with surgically proven hollow organ perforation were included. Five hundred twenty-seven radiographs were retrospectively reviewed on the picture archiving and communication system. Medical charts were reviewed for operative findings of upper gastrointestinal tract, small bowel, or colon perforations. The variable free air signs on both supine abdominal radiographs (KUB) and supine chest radiographs (CXR) were evaluated and determined by consensus without knowledge of initial radiographic reports or final diagnosis. Erect CXR and left decubitus abdominal radiographs were evaluated for subphrenic free air or air over nondependent part of the right abdomen.

Result

Upper gastrointestinal tract perforation was proven in 91.2%; small bowel perforation, in 6.8%; and colon perforation, in 2.0%. The positive rate of free air was 80.4% on supine KUB, 78.7% on supine CXR, 85.1% on erect CXR, and 98.0% on left decubitus abdominal radiograph. Anterior superior oval sign was the most common radiographic sign on supine KUB (44.0%) and supine CXR (34.0%). Other free air signs ranged from 0% to 30.4%.

Conclusions

Most free air signs on supine radiographs are located over the right upper abdomen. Familiarity with free air signs on supine radiographs is very important to emergency physicians and radiologists for detection of hollow organ perforation.     

Complications of endoscopic retrograde sphincterotomy: Computed tomographic evaluation

Although the reported complication rate of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy is low, patients often experience abdominal pain postprocedure. When pain persists, or fever and leukocytosis develop, a procedure-related complication should be suspected. The authors reviewed a series of 36 patients referred to computed tomography (CT) for evaluation of possible complications following ERCP with sphincterotomy. Initial CT scans were obtained within 24 h in 19 patients, and during the second to seventh day in the remainder. Complications detected by CT included acute pancreatitis (23), duodenal perforation (11), retroperitoneal dissection of air (4), pneumoperitoneum (4), and development of retroperitoneal abscess (4). Eight patients had normal CT scans except for air and contrast material in the biliary tree. The severity and extent of injury were readily assessed by CT, and response to therapy effectively monitored by serial CT examinations. Thirty-one cases (31 of 36) were successfully managed conservatively with antibiotics, intravenous hydration, and restriction of oral intake. Four patients required surgical intervention for drainage of a retroperitoneal abscess (3) or a pseudocyst (1). A fifth patient required intensive care resuscitation for septic shock. We conclude that CT is the study of choice for evaluating the patient with suspected complication following ERCP and sphincterotomy.     

Pneumomediastinum,Pneumothorax, and Subcutaneous Emphysema Caused by Colonoscopic Perforation: A Report of Two Cases

Background

Although colonoscopy is generally a safe procedure, lethal complications can occur. Colonoscopic perforation is one of the most serious complications, and it can present with various clinical symptoms and signs. Aggravating abdominal pain and free air on simple radiography are representative clinical manifestations of colonoscopic perforation. However, unusual symptoms and signs, such as dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema, which are less likely to be related with complicating colonoscopy, may obscure correct clinical diagnosis. We present two cases of pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema caused by colonoscopic perforation.

彩色多普勒超声对胃肠道穿孔的诊断价值探讨

目的探讨胃肠道穿孔的声像图特点及其诊断价值。方法对116例经手术证实为消化道穿孔患者的彩色多普勒超声检查结果与X线检查结果进行回顾性对比分析。结果 116例患者中,彩色多普勒超声诊断腹腔游离气体为103例,占88.8%;腹盆腔积液107例,占92.2%;腹腔包块和包裹性积液8例,占6.9%;发现穿孔部位51例,占43.9%;X线诊断腹腔游离气体95例,占81.9%;13例包裹性消化道穿孔彩色多普勒超声和X-线均未发现游离气体。结论彩色多普勒超声检查对胃肠道穿孔的早期诊断具有重要价值。     

超声检查在消化道穿孔诊断中的临床价值

目的 探讨超声检查在消化道穿孔中的诊断价值。方法 回顾分析经手术证实的64例消化道穿孔的超声表现,并与腹部X线检查结果与手术结果进行对比分析。结果 在64例消化道穿孔患者中,手术证实胃穿孔10例,十二指肠球部穿孔39例,阑尾穿孔14例,外伤致小肠破裂1例。术前超声提示消化道穿孔58例,病变的定性诊断符合率90.6％,其中发现腹腔游离气体41例,占64%;腹腔游离积液或局限性积液54例,占84%;局部网膜聚集23例,占35.9%,直接发现穿孔部位21例,占32.8%;腹部X线检查发现膈下游离气体44例,诊断符合率68.7%,与超声检查发现游离气体的符合率相差不大。结论 X线和超声检查均可发现腹腔内游离气体,但是超声还可以发现由消化道穿孔引起的腹腔积液、局部网膜聚集等征象,对腹腔脏器穿孔的检出率较高,具有很高的临床应用价值。      

Retroperitoneal perforation during endoscopic sphincterotomy: imaging findings

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with sphincterotomy has become an important technique in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases. Serious complications, although rare, may occur, and their early recognition and treatment are of the utmost importance. We encountered several such cases. This study reviews the imaging findings in patients with retroperitoneal perforation detected after the procedure. METHODS: Of 796 patients who had endoscopic sphincterotomy at our institution during a 9-year period, retroperitoneal perforation occurred in nine (1.13%). Imaging findings and clinical outcome were assessed. RESULTS: In eight patients, routine abdominal radiographs taken during the procedure disclosed retroperitoneal air, associated with extravasation of contrast material in six patients. This was further confirmed on computed tomography (CT) in three patients. In the ninth patient, the diagnosis was established by an emergent abdominal CT performed a day after the sphincterotomy, because of severe abdominal pain. Two patients died of overwhelming sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal perforation during endoscopic sphincterotomy is a rare complication, which occurred in 1.13% of our patients. It can be usually clearly recognized radiographically by an abdominal film and in doubtful cases by CT. We emphasize the importance of recognizing this potentially serious complication with imaging studies.     

Bilateral tension pneumothoraces and subcutaneous emphysema following colonoscopic polypectomy: a case report and discussion of anesthesia considerations

A 78-year-old man presented preoperatively with severe abdominal pain, dyspnea, and subcutaneous emphysema in his face, neck, and chest approximately 8 hours after colonoscopy with a sigmoid polypectomy. A pneumoperitoneum, free air in the mesentery, pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and bilateral pneumothoraces were diagnosed using radiography and computed axial tomography. He emergently underwent an exploratory laparotomy with colostomy following bilateral chest tube placement. At laparotomy, a perforation of the posterior sigmoid colon was identified at the site of earlier polypectomy. The patient remained intubated and mechanically ventilated for 3 days postoperatively. Perforations of the colon during colonoscopies are the most serious complication of the procedure. Continued insufflation of air or carbon dioxide into a perforated colon can result in extraluminal gas that can result in life-threatening tension pneumothoraces. This case examines the consequences of colonic perforation and the anesthetic management for the definitive surgical treatment of a posterior sigmoid wall perforation. Anesthesia providers' awareness of the risk factors for colonic perforation due to colonoscopy, early signs and symptoms of perforation, and knowledge of the surgical and anesthetic management of perforation could lead to early recognition and intervention and likely to improved patient outcomes.     

外伤性肠穿孔的CT征象

目的:探讨CT对外伤性肠穿孔的诊断价值。材料与方法:对2002年7月至2006年1月在我院住院,并经手术证实的42例外伤性肠穿孔患者的CT图像进行回顾性分析。其中腹部钝挫伤27例,锐器伤15例。所有病例均未口服造影剂,也没有进行增强扫描。结果:穿孔发生在十二指肠5例,空肠12例,回肠9例,结肠18例,直肠1例。外伤性肠穿孔的CT征象包括:腹腔游离气体(20/42)、腹膜后游离气体(6/42)、肠壁增厚(21/42)、腹腔游离积液(25/42)、肠袢间(系膜)积液(5/42)、系膜浸润(19/42)、系膜血肿(4/42)及肠管扩张积液(4/42)等。结论:肠穿孔的CT所见均为间接征象,单一CT指征对外伤性肠穿孔的诊断价值有限,综合分析是提高诊断率的有效方法。     

A case of ampullary perforation treated with a temporally covered metal stent

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related perforation is classified into three or four types based on anatomical location and the mechanism of injury. Although ampullary injury, among them, may be managed nonsurgically, surgical management is required in cases of perforation with retroperitoneal fluid collection and severe condition. Here, a patient with ERCP-related severe ampullary perforation with retroperitoneal fluid collection that was treated nonsurgically with a covered stent is presented.     

超声检查在消化道穿孔诊断中的价值

目的探讨超声检查在诊断消化道穿孔中的临床价值和体会。方法对2009年1月至2012年1月东莞市大朗医院收治的48例经手术病理证实的急性消化道穿孔患者的临床资料及超声表现进行回顾性分析。结果超声检查发现腹腔游离气体和游离包裹性积液的敏感性分别为85.4%(41/48)和87.5%(42/48);X线检查发现膈下游离气体的敏感性为75.0%(36/48)。结论超声检查可诊断出胃肠穿孔时腹腔内游离气体、积液以及异常回声等征象,弥补了X线检查的不足,为临床外科急腹症的快速诊断提供可靠依据。     

Evaluation of the pancreatic duct: A reappraisal based on a retrospective correlative study by sonography and pancreatography in 117 normal and pathologic subjects

A retrospective study of 117 normal and pathologic pancreatic ducts by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with ultrasonic correlation in 80 cases, confirmed the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of ductal dilatation. The specificity of ultrasound is good: the ultrasonic discovery of a dilatation constitutes a relevant feature. Sensitivity is however poor, particularly in moderate and localized dilatations: a suggestive clinical picture requires ERCP even if sonography is in favor of a normal pancreatic duct. Correlative measurements show discrepancies, with higher ERCP values in normal subjects. The average ERCP diameter in the corporeal ductal segment is 2.6 mm. Until correlative results arising from a prospective study are available, the ultrasonic diagnosis of ductal dilatation must take into account the high normal values demonstrated by ERCP.     

胃肠道穿孔的CT诊断分析

目的本文探讨分析了胃肠道穿孔的CT表现及影像特征。方法本组病例使用全身CT连续扫描，层厚／量；距均为10mm，并用窄窗调节图像，观察腹部情况。结果本组病例CT分析显示，膈下或腹腔内散在性游离气体阴影可作为胃肠道穿孔定性诊断依据。结论CT能清晰地显示消化道与周围组织间的关系，结合穿孔部位的病变特征，可以做出定位性诊断。     

儿童胆道穿孔的超声诊断分析

目的探讨超声检查在儿童胆道穿孔诊断中的价值及诊断要点。 方法回顾性分析重庆医科大学附属儿童医院1996年9月至2019年6月经手术确诊为胆道穿孔的41例患儿临床资料和超声声像图表现。采用四格表分析超声检查提示胆道扩张和胆囊壁增厚对胆道穿孔的诊断效果。 结果胆道穿孔患儿主要临床表现：呕吐31例、腹痛23例、腹胀21例、发热18例、黄疸8例及腹膜刺激征阳性25例。41例胆道穿孔患儿的腹部超声检查结果：（1）有38例合并胆道异常,其中31例合并胆道扩张,20例合并胆囊壁增厚,2例合并胆囊结石;（2）4例空腹胆囊充盈困难;（3）36例合并腹水。超声检查提示胆道扩张诊断胆道穿孔的敏感度为90.63%,特异度为77.78%。超声提示胆囊壁增厚诊断胆道穿孔的敏感度为78.26%,特异度为88.89%。 结论对于因腹胀、呕吐、发热、黄疸等症状的就诊的患儿,超声检查发现胆道异常（胆道扩张、胆道壁增厚、胆道结石等）及不明原因的腹水,可嘱患儿空腹后复查,若患儿胆囊充盈困难,即可提示胆道穿孔,超声检查可以作为辅助诊断儿童胆道穿孔的可靠工具。     

"Disappearance" of retroperitoneal vessels - a case report

We report the ultrasound findings in a case of pneumo-retroperitoneum. The 74-year-old patient was admitted because of severe dyspnoea. Chest X-ray revealed a left-sided pleural effusion, and a drainage was performed. Later on the patient for the first time complained about severe pain in the lower abdomen. Ultrasound of the abdomen was performed. Sonographically, it was remarkably difficult to obtain images of the right kidney and the retroperitoneal vessels, as massive reverberation artifacts in the retroperitoneum were present. Plain radiography of the abdomen revealed free retroperitoneal and intraabdominal gas. At laparotomy a perforated diverticulitis of the sigma was discovered. Postoperative follow-up was uneventful, but the recurrent pleural effusion was later confirmed to be due to a malignant mesothelioma. This article discusses the characteristic sonomorphologic features of pneumo-retroperitoneum and its differential diagnosis. Although free retroperitoneal air is a rare condition, it is crucial for the examiner to be aware of the characteristic sonographic findings in order to initiate appropriate therapy.     

Computed tomography of bowel perforation

The authors present 2 cases of intestinal perforation which were not associated with free intraperitoneal air detectable on abdominal radiographs. Computed tomography demonstrated evidence of intraperitoneal leakage of orally administered contrast material and thereby provided the correct diagnosis.     

Rare variant of pancreaticobiliary maljunction associated with pancreas divisum in a child diagnosed and treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreaticobiliary maljunction(PBM) is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system, defined as a union of the pancreatic and biliary ducts located outside the duodenal wall. According to the Komi classification of PBM, the common bile duct(CBD) directly fuses with the ventral pancreatic duct in all types. Pancreas divisum(PD) occurs when the ventral and dorsal ducts of the embryonic pancreas fail to fuse during the second month of fetal development. The coexistence of PBM and PD is an infrequent condition.Here, we report an unusual variant of PBM associated with PD in a pediatric patient, in whom an anomalous communication existed between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.CASE SUMMARY A boy aged 4 years and 2 mo was hospitalized for abdominal pain with nausea and jaundice for 5 d. Abdominal ultrasound showed cholecystitis with cholestasis in the gallbladder, dilated middle-upper CBD, and a strong echo in the lower CBD, indicating biliary stones. The diagnosis was extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by biliary stones, which is an indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP). ERCP was performed to remove biliary stones. During the ERCP, we found a rare communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct. After clearing the CBD with a balloon, an 8.5 Fr 4-cm pigtail plastic pancreatic stent was placed in the biliary duct through the major papilla. Six months later, his biliary stent was removed after he had no symptoms and normal laboratory tests. In the following 4-year period, the child grew up normally with no more attacks of abdominal pain.CONCLUSION We consider that ERCP is effective and safe in pediatric patients with PBM combined with PD, and can be the initial therapy to manage such cases,especially when it is combined with aberrant communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.     

膈下游离气体为阴性的胃十二指肠穿孔28例诊治体会

[目的]探讨膈下游离气体为阴性的胃十二指肠穿孔的诊断与治疗.[方法]对2003～2006年收治的165例胃十二指肠穿孔,术前均行腹部X线透视或摄片.[结果]膈下游离气体阴性者28例,占17.0%(28/165).术前明确诊断者21例,误诊为阑尾穿孔4例,诊断不明行剖腹探查3例.均行手术治疗,死亡1例.[结论]对于缺乏典型X线表现的胃十二指肠穿孔诊断有时较为困难,容易出现误诊、漏诊,须结合腹腔诊断性穿刺等其他手段.     

Clinical signs and radiographic evidence of esophageal perforation after tetraplegia

A diagnosis of esophageal perforation at some time after cervical spine surgery is difficult to establish since there exists no clinical picture specific to tetraplegic patients. We carried out a detailed retrospective study of revelatory clinical manifestations and conventional radiographic data in a series of 16 patients hospitalized at Hôpital Henry-Gabrielle (Lyon, France) for rehabilitation purposes between 1983 and 2010 and who presented this complication. The most frequent clinical picture associates cervical pain, fever and dysphagia. Simple front and side X-rays of the cervical spine led in 77% of the cases to a diagnosis of esophageal perforation. The most prevalent radiographic signs of the latter consist in osteosynthesis hardware or instrumentation failure, prevertebral free air next to the cervical esophagus and enlarged prevertebral space. Visualized esophageal X-rays, also known as series, highlight parenchymal opacity next to the posterior wall of the esophagus. A diagnosis of esophageal perforation needs to be carried out in order to facilitate suitable treatment and avoid the compromising of vital functions.     

Retroperitoneal duodenal perforation during endoscopic sphincterotomy: sonographic findings

We present the sonographic findings in 5 cases of retroperitoneal duodenal perforation during endoscopic sphincterotomy. In each case, sonography showed hyperechoic areas associated with shadowing and ring-down artifacts between the liver and the right kidney correlating with the retroperitoneal air seen on plain x-ray films. This brightly echogenic area with shadowing surrounded and obscured the kidney. In 4 patients, resolution was documented on follow-up sonographic examinations in agreement with other radiologic findings; the other patient died.     

胃肠穿孔的超声诊断价值

目的：探讨胃肠穿孔的超声表现及其诊断价值。方法：对36例经超声诊断并经手术证实为胃肠穿孔患者的声像图与X线结果进行回顾性对比分析。结果：超声发现腹腔游离气体和（或）游离包裹性积液，敏感性较高，分别为91．6％（33／36）和100％（36／36），腹腔内不规则炎性包块占55．6％（20／36）。X线发现膈下游离气体敏感性则为80．5％（29／36）。结论：超声诊断胃肠穿孔可检出腹腔内游离气体、积液和异常回声包块等征象，能弥补X线的不足，为临床外科急腹症提供快速而可靠的诊断依据。