Abstract
The pneumoperitoneum is the abnormal presence of free air in the peritoneal cavity. In most cases it is related to the perforation of hollow organs. Nevertheless there are cases of pneumoperitoneum without obvious causes called idiopathic. We report a case of massive pneumoperitoneum of radiological discovery in a patient of 16 years old boy, sickle-cell of type SS, during the exploration of an angiocholitis. It was medically treated successfully. No obvious etiology had been found. This particular situation is a dogma which runs up against the classic interventionist spirit; therefore each of pneumoperitoneum needs to be studied case by case. The presence of signs of peritoneal irritation allows surgical exploration. Otherwise, laparoscopy seems to be a minimally invasive surgical method and allows a visual diagnosis by eliminating a hollow organ perforation.
Highlights
Pneumoperitoneum is the abnormal presence of free gas in the peritoneal cavity, but outside the hollow viscera
The pneumoperitoneum is the abnormal presence of free air in the peritoneal cavity
We report a case of idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in a sickle cell of type SS, who successfully received medical treatment
Summary
Pneumoperitoneum is the abnormal presence of free gas in the peritoneal cavity, but outside the hollow viscera. In most cases, it is associated with hollow organs perforation and requires emergency surgery [1]. Cases of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum, without perforation of the gastrointestinal tract have been reported [2]. It constitutes an exceptional situation in paediatric population. It is important to recognize and treat it appropriately because laparotomy and general anaesthesia are associated with significant morbidity It has a benign course and can be treated medically [3]. We report a case of idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in a sickle cell of type SS, who successfully received medical treatment
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