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Pneumoperitoneum: a non-surgical cause

Yu Xuan Kitzing and Sam McCormack
MJA 2008; 189 (11/12): 678

A 53-year-old woman presented with a 2-day history of epigastric pain. She had mild tenderness over the right upper quadrant and epigastrium, with no peritonism. A chest x-ray revealed free gas under the diaphragm (Figure, A; arrows). A computed tomography scan confirmed a large pneumoperitoneum but no hollow-viscus perforation; the uterus was filled with gas (Figure, B; arrow). On further questioning, the patient recalled that the pain began after she sat on the gas outlet of a pneumatic spa. She was managed conservatively and discharged uneventfully. Air introduced through the gynaecological tract is a non-surgical cause of pneumoperitoneum. Distension of the uterus with gas on imaging can be a clue to diagnosis.

Yu Xuan Kitzing, Radiology RegistrarSam McCormack, Radiologist

Department of Radiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW.

liyuxuATrad.rpa.cs.nsw.gov.au

(Received 27 Jul 2008, accepted 18 Sep 2008)


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©The Medical Journal of Australia 2008 www.mja.com.au PRINT ISSN: 0025-729X ONLINE ISSN: 1326-5377