Pneumomediastinum as a complication of emphysematous cholecystitis: case report

Emphysematous cholecystitis is a variant of acute cholecystitis which is generally caused by gas-forming organisms. Emphysematous cholecystitis may cause gas spreading within the subcutaneous tissue, peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum. We present a case of emphysematous cholecystitis in a middle-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC gastroenterology 2010-09, Vol.10 (1), p.99-99, Article 99
Main Authors: Delgado-Plasencia, Luciano, González-García, Ignacio, Rodríguez-González, Diana, Torres-Monzón A, Esther
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Care and treatment
Case Report
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystitis
Complications and side effects
Development and progression
Diagnosis, Differential
Distribution
Drainage
Emphysema, Pulmonary
Emphysematous Cholecystitis - complications
Emphysematous Cholecystitis - diagnosis
Emphysematous Cholecystitis - surgery
Gastroenterology
Humans
Male
Mediastinal Emphysema - diagnosis
Mediastinal Emphysema - etiology
Mediastinal Emphysema - surgery
Middle Aged
Pneumomediastinum
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Emphysematous cholecystitis is a variant of acute cholecystitis which is generally caused by gas-forming organisms. Emphysematous cholecystitis may cause gas spreading within the subcutaneous tissue, peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum. We present a case of emphysematous cholecystitis in a middle-aged diabetic patient who, postoperatively, presented edema in both flanks and left chest crepitation on palpation, associated with hemodynamic worsening. Computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen revealed a large pneumomediastinum, pneumoretroperitoneum, gas in subcutaneous tissue and flank abscesses. In both blood and surgical wound exudate cultures, Escherichia coli was found. Emphysematous cholecystitis should be considered as a possible cause of pneumomediastinum.
ISSN:1471-230X
1471-230X
DOI:10.1186/1471-230X-10-99