title: Pneumatosis coli with ulcerative colitis as a rare complication of colonoscopy.
abstract: Pneumatosis coli is a relatively rare condition characterized by the presence of gas in the submucosa or subserosa involving mainly the large intestine and, occasionally, the mesenteric attachments. We experienced two cases of pneumatosis coli with ulcerative colitis after colonoscopy that had different clinical courses. Case 1 showed submucosal pneumatosis coli and portal venous air. The air was resolved 30 h later. Case 2 showed subserosal pneumatosis coli and retropneumoperitoneum. The air was eliminated after 3 weeks. The clinical features of pneumatosis coli may depend on the intramural region of the air. Cases 1 and 2 had different air localization, that is, submucosal and subserosal air, and this seems to reflect the differences in the complications. In Case 1 the air expanded to the portal vein, and took only a short time to resolve. In Case 2, however, the air leaked to the retroperitoneal space and took a long time to resolve. In summary, pneumatosis coli as a complication of colonoscopy presented different features depending on the air location. To our knowledge, this is the first report to reveal the difference of air localization and the complications associated with pneumatosis coli after colonoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tsukinowa, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan. sb@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bamba
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tsukinowa, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujikawa
authors.affiliation: Intensive and Critical Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saotome
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tsukinowa, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.affiliation: Division of Endoscopy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nutrition, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Mucosal Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tsukinowa, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
keywords: Colonoscopy; Pneumatosis coli; Pneumoperitoneum; Portal venous air; Ulcerative colitis