Esophageal pneumatosis in the setting of small bowel ileus with acute resolution after nasogastric tube decompression

Esophageal pneumatosis is a rare condition with diverse potential etiologies including traumatic, mechanical, ischemic, obstructive respiratory, autoimmune, immunodeficient, and infectious causes. Here, we present a case of esophageal pneumatosis in the setting of upper gastrointestinal and small bowel ileus, diagnosed on computed tomography (CT), with acute resolution after nasogastric tube decompression. A patient presented to the emergency department with epigastric discomfort. CT of the abdomen/pelvis demonstrated intramural air in the mid-to-distal esophagus, consistent with esophageal pneumatosis, and diffuse dilatation of the visualized esophagus, stomach, and small bowel, consistent with an ileus. Patient was managed with nasogastric tube decompression and bowel rest. Subsequent esophagram did not demonstrate any evidence of perforation and a repeat CT of the abdomen/pelvis, performed 11 hours after initial diagnostic CT, demonstrated interval resolution of patient's esophageal pneumatosis, and improvement of patient's ileus.