Neumatosis intestinal y gas en el territorio venoso portomesentérico en el paciente anciano: etiología, fisiopatología y significado clínico

Pneumatosis intestinalis and portomesenteric venous gas in adults is a rare entity. However, because of the advances in diagnostic imaging and the rapid growth of the elderly population, more cases are being reported in adults. The most frequent cause of hepatic portal venous gas is extensive bowel necrosis, which is potentially fatal in this age group. We present an 80-year-old woman with clinical and radiological signs of portal venous gas and pneumatosis intestinalis secondary to ischaemic necrotizing enterocolitis. The patient's general condition rapidly deteriorated with subsequent fatality. We review the aetiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests and therapeutic options of this disease in the elderly.