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Thomas G. Winek, MD; H. Steven Mosely, MD; Gordon Grout, MD; David Luallin, MD

Arch Surg. 1988;123(6):709-712.

Abstract
• Pneumoperitoneum is not invariably associated with ruptured or perforated intra-abdominal viscus. To determine the incidence of free air associated with intra-abdominal viscus perforation, the medical records of 77 consecutive patients whose discharge or autopsy diagnosis included pneumoperitoneum or perforated viscus at a community hospital were retrospectively reviewed between June 1980 and October 1985. Abdominal viscus perforation, as determined by contrast studies or at operation, was not invariably associated with free air. Sixty-nine percent (23/33) of gastroduodenal, 30% (3/10) of small-bowel, and 37% (11/30) of large-bowel perforations had free air, as determined by preoperative x-ray film. Four cases with a total of six episodes of pneumoperitoneum were identified where viscus perforation was not documented. Pneumoperitoneum thus remains a reliable sign of viscus perforation; however, lack of this finding does not rule out perforation, and unusual causes must be considered.

(Arch Surg 1988;123:709-712)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Surgery, Good Samaritan Hospital (Drs Mosely and Grout), and the Department of General Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University (Drs Winek, Mosely, Grout, and Luallin), Portland.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 20, 1987.

Reprint requests to Department of General Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201 (Dr Winek).

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