title: Tension pneumoperitoneum after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To increase awareness of the unusual complication of pneumoperitoneum after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 57-year-old male farmer with a history of chronic renal failure and heart disease, as well as severe oesophageal reflux for which fundoplication had been performed, developed a tension pneumoperitoneum after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This resulted in lower limb cyanosis and an erection, a previously unreported complication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tension was relieved by uncapping a peritoneal dialysis catheter that was in situ. The cyanosis and erection resolved immediately, suggesting that the tension pneumoperitoneum had caused significant venous obstruction. A 3 cm defect in the posterior wall of the stomach was repaired.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The likelihood of pneumoperitoneum is reduced if standard guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation are adhered to.
authors.affiliation: Alfred Hospital, Prahran, VIC.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rosengarten
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dziukas
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000209:etiology; D005121:Extremities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013275:Stomach Rupture / Q000209:etiology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology