Pneumobilia: Benign or life-threatening

Pneumobilia, or air within the biliary tree of the liver, suggests an abnormal communication between the biliary tract and the intestines, or infection by gas-forming bacteria. Pneumobilia usually can be distinguished from air in the portal venous system by its appearance on computed tomography (CT)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of emergency medicine 2006-02, Vol.30 (2), p.147-153
Main Authors: Sherman, Scott C., Tran, Huy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdominal Pain - etiology
Adult
Aged
Air
Biliary Tract Diseases - diagnosis
Biliary Tract Diseases - etiology
Biliary Tract Diseases - surgery
biliary-enteric fistula
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
cholangitis
Cholecystitis - diagnosis
Cholecystitis - surgery
choledochoduodenostomy
Diagnosis, Differential
emphysematous cholecystitis
Female
Humans
Intestinal Fistula - diagnosis
Intestinal Fistula - surgery
Leukocyte Count
Male
Middle Aged
pneumobilia
Postcholecystectomy Syndrome - diagnosis
Postcholecystectomy Syndrome - surgery
Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic
sphinterotomy
sump syndrome
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Description
Summary:Pneumobilia, or air within the biliary tree of the liver, suggests an abnormal communication between the biliary tract and the intestines, or infection by gas-forming bacteria. Pneumobilia usually can be distinguished from air in the portal venous system by its appearance on computed tomography (CT) scan. The most common conditions associated with pneumobilia include: 1) a biliary-enteric surgical anastamosis, 2) an incompetent sphincter of Oddi, or 3) a spontaneous biliary-enteric fistula. Three cases of pneumobilia associated with its most common causes are presented and further differential diagnostic possibilities as well as the implications of this finding on patient management are discussed.
ISSN:0736-4679
2352-5029
DOI:10.1016/j.jemermed.2005.05.016