Case reportDiagnostic laparoscopy for pneumatosis intestinalis in a very elderly patient: A case report

- Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) may be associated with life-threatening emergencies.
- It is difficult to completely rule out the fatal conditions associated with PI without surgery.
- Very elderly patients are at high risk for a fatal outcome if surgery is delayed.
- Laparoscopy may be a useful option for diagnosing PI in very elderly patients.

IntroductionPneumatosis intestinalis is rare but may be associated with life-threatening intra-abdominal conditions such as intestinal ischemia or perforation. However, it can be difficult, particularly in the very elderly, to identify candidates for immediate surgical intervention.Presentation of caseA 94-year-old man with abdominal distension underwent abdominal computed tomography, which demonstrated accumulation of air bubbles within the intestinal wall and some free intraperitoneal air, suggestive of pneumatosis intestinalis. His vital signs showed evidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and laboratory examination revealed inflammation and hypoxia. As the patient was frail, with his age and concomitant conditions which may have masked the symptoms and severity of his illness, immediate diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis, with multiple gas-filled cysts seen within the subserosa of the small intestine. No additional surgical procedure was performed. His symptoms improved postoperatively.DiscussionOptimal management of pneumatosis intestinalis in a timely manner requires a comprehensive evaluation of factors in each individual. In patients with severe symptoms, PI might be a sign of a life-threatening intra-abdominal emergency. Despite the contrast-enhanced CT and prediction markers in previous reports, it considered to be difficult to completely rule out these fatal conditions without surgery, especially in very elderly patients with poor performance status.ConclusionDiagnostic laparoscopy may be a useful option for definitively ruling out the lethal conditions associated with pneumatosis intestinalis in frail elderly patients with severe conditions in the emergency setting.