J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2000 Nov;7(2):171-175.

Conservative Management of Spontaneous Pneumoperitoneum in an Immature Neonate: Report of a Case

• Jeon JH
• Lee HS

Abstract

The finding of extraluminal gas on plain abdominal radiogram is usually associated with a perforated viscus, and an emergency laparatomy is indicated. But we report herein an immature neonate with spontaneous pneumoperitoneum that was treated successfully with conservative management, although this infant she showed positive result in stool occult blood test. As this case shows, the finding of pneumoperitoneum is not of a surgical emergency, because there are many benign explanations for pneumoperitoneum. A through history taking and physical examination are most important in differentiating between surgical and nonsurgical pneumoperitonium.

Keyword

Pneumoperitoneum; Nonsurgical pneumoperitoneum; Peritonitis; Conservative management

MeSH Terms

Emergencies
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn*
Occult Blood
Peritonitis
Physical Examination
Pneumoperitoneum*