Sahil KOPPIKAR1, David YU2, Mark ROPELESKI3, David ROBERTSON2

1Department of Rheumatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
2Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
3Department of Gastroenterology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada

Keywords: Connective tissue disease; mixed connective tissue disease; pneumatosis intestinalis; pneumoperitoneum

Abstract

Connective tissue diseases can be associated with rare gastrointestinal complications such as pneumatosis intestinalis and pneumoperitoneum. In this article, we report a unique case of recurrent pneumatosis intestinalis and spontaneous pneumoperitoneum without evidence of peritonitis in a patient with long-standing mixed connective tissue disease. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed pneumatosis of the jejunum and intra-abdominal free air, without evidence of perforation. The patient was managed non-operatively. Prior to discharge, on post-admission day two, imaging revealed resolution of the pneumatosis but persistent large volume pneumoperitoneum. It is important for clinicians to recognize pneumatosis and pneumoperitoneum as a possible benign complication in patients with mixed connective tissue disease and differentiate it from ruptured viscous. The management of benign spontaneous pneumoperitoneum can be supportive, thereby avoiding unnecessary investigations and surgery.

Citation: Koppikar S, Yu D, Ropeleski M, Robertson D. Recurrent benign pneumatosis intestinalis in a patient with mixed connective tissue disease. Arch Rheumatol 2018;33(4):478-481.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.