title: Tension pneumoperitoneum: a report of 4 cases.
abstract: Four cases of tension pneumoperitoneum are described. In 3 patients this condition followed a perforation of a grossly distended caecum. In 2 of these patients there was an associated malignant neoplasm of the pelvic colon with obstruction. The third patient had a pseudo-obstruction of the transverse colon. The fourth patient had a tension penumoperitoneum with associated surgical emphysema in the neck and subcutaneous tissues of the abdomen and chest walls, following perforation of a duodenal ulcer. The aetiology, presentation and management, together with the mechanism of tension pneumoperitoneum, are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology*