Pneumoperitoneum

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Frontal chest X-ray. The air bubble below the right hemidiaphragm (on the left of the image) is a pneumoperitoneum.

[edit] Description

Pneumoperitoneum is air or gas in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity^[1], often seen on x-ray, but small amounts are often missed and CT is nowadays regarded as a criterion standard in the assessment of a pneumoperitoneum.^[2], CT can visualize as small as 5 cm cubic air. The most common cause is a perforated abdominal viscus, generally a perforated ulcer, although any part of the bowel may perforate from a benign ulcer, tumor or trauma. A perforated appendix seldom causes a pneumoperitoneum.

A pneumoperitoneum is deliberately created by the surgical team in order to perform laparoscopic surgery. This is achieved by insufflating the abdomen with carbon dioxide.

[edit] See also

• Rigler's sign
• Football sign

[edit] References

1. ^ The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary. KMLE American Heritage Medical Dictionary definition of pneumoperitoneum.
2. ^ Ali Nawaz Khan. eMedicine.com: Pneumoperitoneum.

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