title: Blunt abdominal trauma resulting in Pneumatosis intestinalis in an infant.
abstract: We report a case of pnuematosis intestinalis in a 2-year-old boy after blunt abdominal trauma. In the setting of blunt trauma, the hypothesized mechanism of pneumatosis intestinalis is mechanical disruption of the intestinal mucosa with extravasation of luminal gas within the intestinal wall. Although the presence of intraluminal gas may imply intestinal necrosis and the need for an invasive procedure, this case report suggests that management without surgery can lead to successful outcome in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston Memorial Hospital, Evanston, IL, USA. tkouto8600@aol.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koutouzis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000058:Accidental Falls; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*