1620 Pneumatosis Intestinalis Associated With Clostridium difficile Colitis in Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) or pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is defined as the presence of extraluminal bowel gas that is confined within the bowel wall. Characterized by intramural gas in the gastrointestinal tract, PI represents an alarming radiographic sign rather than a specific diagnosis. PI is associated with a wide spectrum of underlying pathological processes such as bowel ischemia, mechanical trauma, inflammatory/autoimmune bowel disease, intestinal neoplasms, bacterial infections like C. Diff, drug-induced including immunosuppression therapy. Differentiating these causes is critical in directing an appropriate care plan and specific treatment is best directed at the underlying disease process. Described here is a case of pneumatosis intestinalis associated with Clostridium Difficile infection in the setting of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: 11-year-old white male with Crohn's Disease on remission on Remicade and Methotrexate, presented with severe periumbilical pain radiating to right lower quadrant associated with fever, multiple episodes of loose stools and vomiting. Denied recent travel, sick contacts or recent exposure to antibiotics. On exam he had significant right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness with no guarding or rebound. Lab data only revealed mild elevation of CRP. US abdomen showed poorly visualized appendix. Subsequent CT abdomen revealed pneumatosis of ascending colon without wall thickening. Following, he was admitted and considering his stable clinical conditions and lab assays, he was treated conservatively with IV antibiotics and bowel rest. A day later, stool studies returned positive for C. Diff toxins. He was started on oral Vancomycin. Serial abdominal X-rays revealed disappearance of PI. Patient began to show clinical improvement, tolerating feeding advances gradually over the next four days. DISCUSSION: IBD is a rare cause of PI. Concurrently, patients with IBD are at increased risk of developing C. Difficile infection. C. Diff infections have a different and often more severe clinical course in patients with IBD. PI patients should be carefully evaluated for possible surgery due to the risk of severe complications. However, management decisions should be made on combined clinical, lab findings and underlying etiology. As in the above case, supportive care and appropriate antibacterial agents sufficed to alleviate symptoms and resolve the pneumatosis.