Peritoneal free air due to evacuation of pneumobilia in blunt abdominal trauma.
Pneumobilia is mostly observed on computed tomography (CT) following surgical biliary-enteric anastomosis and biliary manipulation through endoscopic procedures. Although pneumobilia can be seen in pathological conditions, post-surgical pneumobilia is typically not associated with morbidity. In the present article, we report a case in which blunt abdominal trauma led to the evacuation of pre-existing pneumobilia causing pneumoperitoneum. Given that the subsequent laparotomy proved to be non-therapeutic, this report adds to the few cases of intra-peritoneal free air not helped by surgical intervention.
Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
Isaac
I
Howley
Shea C
SC
Gregg
Daithi S
DS
Heffernan
Charles A
CA
Adams