The applicated value of intraperitoneal free gas in diagnosis of the site of gastrointestinal perforation using multi-slice CT

Abstract

Objective To study the distribution characteristics of intraperitoneal free gas and the location value of the site of gastrointestinal perforation using multi-slice CT (MSCT). Methods 60 cases of gastrointestinal perforation were retrospectively collected.The distribution of the intraperitoneal free gas in CT image was analyzed and observed.The digestive tract were divided to the upper digestive tract and the lower digestive tract by Treitz ligament.The distribution of the intraperitoneal free gas was analyzed using χ2 test.The distribution of the intraperitoneal free gas between each different perforational site was analyzed. Results 38 cases of the site of gastrointestinal perforation located in upper gastrointestinal tract and 22 cases located in lower gastrointestinal tract, there was statistically significant difference between the upper digestive tract and the lower digestive tract about the distribution of the intraperitoneal free gas(χ2=22.33, P 0.05). In the cases of lower gastrointestinal tract perforation, 11 cases of the site located in bowel and 11 cases located in colon, there was statistically significant difference between bowel and colon(χ2=8.98, P<0.05). Conclusion The MSCT distribution of the intraperitoneal free gas has important value in localization diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation. Key words: Gastrointestinal perforation; Intraperitoneal free gas; Tomography, X-ray computer