title: A simple score for predicting mortality in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to identify simple computerized tomography (CT) and clinical predictors of mortality in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis (PI). Thus, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PI were assessed and the predictors of mortality were identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 123 patients with PI were reviewed retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to determine independent predictors of mortality. These data were used to develop a simple score that would predict mortality on the first and seventh day after diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age at diagnosis was 62 (range, 20-91) years. The most common cause of PI was mesenteric vascular ischemia (n=43, 35.0%). Twenty-nine (23.6%) disease-related deaths occurred during the index admission. Both signs of peritoneal irritation on physical examination and decreased or absent enhancement of the bowel wall were associated with increased mortality. If both factors were absent, the in-hospital mortalities on both the first and seventh days after the diagnosis of PI were less than 5%. However, if both factors were present, the in-hospital mortality was 57% on the first day and 59% on the seventh day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simple and novel risk score that predicts mortality in patients with PI was proposed. Patients with both peritoneal irritation and decreased or absent enhancement of bowel wall on CT should be observed vigilantly and early intervention should be instituted.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: 810818hs@hanmail.net.
authors: Ho-Su
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: 9169cho@hanmail.net.
authors: Young-Whan
authors: YW
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: capsulendos@gmail.com.
authors: Kyung-Jo
authors: KJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ljs@amc.seoul.kr.
authors: Jong Seok
authors: JS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: seungsoolee@amc.seoul.kr.
authors: Seung Soo
authors: SS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sky@amc.seoul.kr.
authors: Suk-Kyun
authors: SK
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mortality; Multidetector computed tomography; Pneumatosis intestinalis; Prognosis