title: Pneumoperitoneum from gas gangrene of the pancreas: three unusual findings in a single case.
abstract: A 62-year-old man was first seen with acute pancreatitis with diffuse intrapancreatic gas and pneumoperitoneum. An immediate exploratory operation revealed diffuse pancreatic necrosis but no perforated viscus; postoperatively, the patient rapidly died. This case represents a constellation of extremely rare findings: Clostridium perfringens infection of the pancreas, pancreatic emphysema or "gas gangrene," and pneumoperitoneum without a perforated viscus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112-2699, USA. stockinger@surgery.tulane.edu
authors.forename: Zsolt T
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Stockinger
authors.forename: Ralph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Corsetti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology*