Case Report
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2012; 4(6): 152-156
Published online Jun 27, 2012. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v4.i6.152
Table 1 Pathophysiological mechanisms for some of the causes of nonsurgical pneumoperitoneum[2,4,19,20,22,23]
Nonsurgical causesPathophysiological mechanism
PseudopneumoperitoneumAdventitial air shadows
Overdistension of hollow viscera
Undulant configuration of the diaphragm
Gas trapped in established wounds
Basal pulmonary atelectasis
Subdiaphragmatic extraperitoneal fat
Interposition of the hepatic flexure of colon between right lobe of liver and diaphragm
ThoracicMechanical ventilation
High airway pressures
Large tidal volumes
Noncompliant lungs
Preexistant pulmonary disease
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Pneumothorax
Pneumomediastinum
Rapid decompression (diving accidents)
Tracheal rupture
Median sternotomy
Blast injury
AbdominalPostoperative retained air after abdominal surgery
Peritoneal dialysis
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
Endoscopic procedures
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
Blunt abdominal trauma
GynecologicalVaginal insufflations
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Post partum knee chest exercises
Coitus
Gynecological exams
Vaginal douching
Idiopathic