title: Pneumatosis intestinalis after adult living donor liver transplantation: report of three cases and collective literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a condition in which multiple gas-filled mural cysts develop in the gastrointestinal tract. Although its exact etiology remains obscure, PI is rarely observed in liver transplant (LT) recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 317 cases of adult living donor LT (LDLT) performed during 2011, PI developed in three patients during the 3 year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of these three patients, the two who demonstrated PI at 6 weeks and 2 months after LT, respectively, were asymptomatic and showed no signs of secondary complications. Diagnosis was made incidentally using abdominal radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans. PI was identified in the right ascending colon with concomitant pneumoperitoneum. These two patients received supportive care and maintained a regular diet. Follow-up CT scans demonstrated spontaneous resolution of PI with no complications. The third patient was admitted to the emergency room 30 months after LDLT. His symptoms included poor oral intake and intermittent abdominal pain with no passage of gas. Abdominal radiography and CT scans demonstrated PI in the entire small bowel, with small bowel dilatation, pneumoperitoneum, and pneumoretroperitoneum, but no peritonitis. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension but no tenderness or rebound tenderness. After 1 week of conservative treatment, including bowel rest and antibiotics therapy, PI and pneumoperitoneum resolved spontaneously without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that adult LDLT recipients who develop asymptomatic or symptomatic PI with no signs of secondary complications can be successfully managed with conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheon-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gi-Won
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Deok-Bog
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gil-Chun
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Living donor liver transplantation; Pneumatosis intestinalis; Pneumoperitoneum